Heat wave begins to break today

THURSDAY SEPT. 30…The area of high pressure that has brought summer like weather to the Sierra and Tahoe this week is beginning to break down today, and while temperatures will remain well above normal through at least Friday, the end of this heat wave is in sight.

Over the next several days the region will be pinched between two weather systems. One will bring monsoonal moisture north from Baja California along the eastern Sierra. This will present a threat of thunderstorms as far north as Alpine County today, and possibly into Tahoe over the weekend.

At the same time a low pressure system out of the northwest will skirt past us to the north as it moves into the Great Basin, lowering temperatures a bit with its burst of cooler air.

A second, more significant trough is set to follow that one, and by Monday we should see high temperatures 20 degrees or more cooler than Friday and Saturday.

Stay tuned for updates as conditions change.

Forecast Highs

Tahoe City

Thursday 79
Friday 76
Saturday 74

At 7000 feet

Thursday 80
Friday 74
Saturday 72

Regional radar with rain/snow mix:
9

Heat should peak on Wednesday

An unseasonably strong area of high pressure over the Great Basin will keep Tahoe and the entire Sierra baking today as the summer we never really had finally takes root in the first full week of fall.

Highs today are likely to be in the 80s around the lake and the 70s at higher elevations. Lows early this morning dipped into the high 30s in Truckee but were around 50 at the mountain passes.

Much the same is expected for Wednesday before the spell begins to break just a bit and cooler air starts to move in. We’ll see a slow change approaching from two directions. From the south, a plume of sub tropical moisture will move up the eastern Sierra as far north as Mammoth or perhaps Alpine County. Thunderstorms are possible there later in the week.

At the same time, a low pressure system will be moving into the Pacific Northwest. That will bring slightly cooler temperatures to Tahoe, but highs will probably remain above normal at least through Friday. The system is expected to pass too far to our north to bring any precipitation our way.

Another low pressure system later in the weekend might carry more potential for rain in Northern California.

Stay tuned for updates as conditions change.

Forecast Highs

Tahoe City

Tuesday 81
Wednesday 81
Thursday 79

At 7000 feet

Tuesday 79
Wednesday 77
Thursday 74

Regional radar with rain/snow mix:
9

Heat wave to last most of this week

Tahoe’s early fall heat wave continues today, with temperatures approaching record highs here and throughout California and Nevada.

The cause: an area of high pressure that is still building over the west, clamping a lid on our region and baking the land beneath it.

Highs today are likely to be in the 80s around the lake and the 70s at higher elevations.

Tuesday and Wednesday should be hot as well before the spell breaks and cooler air begins to move in. We’ll see a change approaching from two directions. From the south, a plume of sub tropical moisture will move up the eastern Sierra as far north as Mammoth or perhaps Alpine County. Thunderstorms are possible there later in the week.

At the same time, a low pressure system will be moving into the Pacific Northwest. That will bring slightly cooler temperatures to Tahoe, but highs will probably remain above normal at least through Friday.

Stay tuned for updates as conditions change.

Forecast Highs

Tahoe City

Monday 80
Tuesday 81
Wednesday 79

At 7000 feet

Monday 76
Tuesday 79
Wednesday 76

Regional radar with rain/snow mix:
9

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