Cold days coming, possible pattern change

Wednesday, Feb. 22

Tahoe is basking today under mostly sunny skies and warm, springlike temperatures.

Highs today along the lake will be in the mid-50s, and after a brief cooling Thursday, highs will again be pushing into the 50s on Friday.

But a trough of low pressure is setting up over the Pacific Northwest that is forecast to bring cooler temperatures and a slight chance of precipitation to the region by this weekend.

A strong, cold and fast-moving system is on track to move through the region Friday night into Saturday.

This system is likely to send temperatures back to normal for this time of year and probably 10 to 15 degrees below normal. The cold temperatures will be accompanied by high winds and a chance of snow, especially in the Northern Sierra. Unfortunately this system will be fairly dry, so accumulations will be light.

But the storm door will remain open. The ridge of high pressure over the Pacific is shifting west and is forecast to reset in a spot that would allow storm systems to make their way down the Pacific Coast.

Look for temperatures to remain below normal into next week with another brush-by storm Monday and the possibility of an actual winter storm with measurable snow by the middle of next week.

Stay tuned for updates