Next storm due Thursday: 1-2 feet possible

Wednesday April 11 2012

A slow-moving Pacific storm is moving through the Sierra this morning but has lost most of its moisture on its way up the Western Slope. So far the Tahoe Basin has received barely a thick dusting of new snow, with a bit more on the way.

But a second system still brewing off the coast looks much more promising, snow-wise.

This system is bigger, colder and wetter, and should bring one to two feet of new snow to the Sierra between Thursday and Friday.

Snow levels will drop to below 5000 feet as the front moves through on Friday.

We could see some lingering snow showers on Saturday but once this system moves east the Basin will see a rapid warm up, with temperatures quickly moving back into the 50s by Sunday or Monday.

Stay tuned for updates

Coldest, biggest storm of the week due tonight

Friday March 16

The last in a series of storms — and the coldest and strongest of the bunch — will swing through the Sierra Nevada today.

The storm will arrive in two waves, one this morning and another later tonight. This morning’s wave is already moving up the western slope of the Sierra, bringing rain and high elevation snow to the region. Snow levels are at or above 7000 feet and will remain there until at least mid-morning, when they should start dropping.

By tonight snow should be falling below 5000 feet, and we’ll have snow in the foothills Saturday morning. Accumulations around the Lake will depend on the timing of the cold air’s arrival, but we can expect another two to three feet of snow above 7500 feet by Saturday night, The heaviest snowfall will be overnight tonight, with snow falling at a rate o 2 to 3 inches per hour for much of the night. That rate should taper off Saturday morning, but unsettled conditions will keep a possibility of snow showers in the forecast into Sunday.

Winds will also be a problem today and tonight, with gusts of 50 mph or more. Getting around the Basin Saturday morning could be a real headache.

It looks like we will begin to dry out starting late Sunday or Monday.

Stay tuned for updates.

Out like a lion: snow, rain, wind this week

Monday March 13

A wet and snowy week lays ahead for the Tahoe Basin.

The action starts late tonight or early Tuesday as the first in a series of storms rides a shuttle from the eastern Pacific into the Sierra Nevada.

This system will take direct aim on the Lassen region but will also bring plenty of moisture to Tahoe. Snow levels will be rising quickly as warm air is pushed ahead of the front, bringing snow levels to above 6000 feet. Areas above 7000 feet could see two feet of snow or more by Wednesday night, with substantially less than that below 7000 feet. This storm will be accompanied by high winds that could create near blizzard conditions at time at the higher elevations.

After a brief lull, another, colder storm is due this weekend. The latest computer forecast models are showing this storm arriving a little later than previous runs, perhaps not until Friday into Saturday. But the delay could also allow more cold air to filter into the mix from the north, bringing snow levels down before the majority of the moisture passes over the Sierra. If that happens we could see another two to three feet of snow this weekend, with snow levels eventually coming down to the low foothills.

The pattern looks likely to continue into next week.

It’s going to be a wild end to a wimpy winter.

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