Next storm coming into better focus

SATURDAY JANUARY 31 6:40 PM….The forecast models are starting to zero in on the storm system expected to drop down from Alaska and along the California coast next week. Tahoe should start to see a change in the weather around Tuesday with cooler temps and increasing cloud cover. The low pressure system is expected to reach California by Wednesday. S till a question about whether it will move straight across the state and into the Sierra or keep going south. But either way it appears the mountains are in for at least some precip from this event with the chance of another one following it in. The series actually looks a bit like the one that ended the last dry spell. That means warm temps as the first one moves in Wednesday night or Thursday with snow levels around 8000 feet. Snow levels should gradually drop toward 5000 feet as we get precip off and on over the weekend. We will keep tracking this storm and post updates here.

Next snow still at least five days out

SATURDAY JAN. 31… 5:11 AM…..Cooler today as the edge of a dry cold front moves across Northern California. Winds should also pick up, especially in the canyons. The high pressure ridge will then rebuild itself on Sunday and Monday and continue to push any and all weather systems to the north. The ridge is forecast to break down by mid-week as a low-pressure system slides down the coast. It’s still very unclear when and if that low will move across California to bring snow to the Sierra. The computer models keep pushing it back a day (now looks like Thursday or Friday) and some of the model scenarios suggest the low will just keep meandering along the coast all the way to Southern California. That would not be good for us as it would leave Tahoe with just a taste of precip, if that.

‘Worst drought’ in state history

This SF Chronicle story says yesterday’s snowpack measurements suggests California “teeters on the edge of the worst drought in state history.”

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