A trough of low pressure moving into California from the Pacific Northwest this morning will lead to increasing clouds with a chance of thunderstorms over the Northern Sierra this afternoon and tonight. The greatest chance for precipitation will be in Sierra and Plumas counties north of Tahoe, but there’s a slight chance we could see some isolated showers as far south as Highway 50. Ahead of the system we will see some gusty winds with gusts around 30 mph on Lake Tahoe. This system will move through quickly overnight and skies should be clearing by midday Friday. Temperatures will be cooler Friday by about 5 to 10 degrees.

A ridge of high pressure will then quickly rebuild and warm the region for the weekend. By Sunday we should see highs in the 80s in the foothills and the 70s in the Sierra.

But another modest spring storm is headed our way early next week. Clouds, cooler temperatures and a chance of rain are in the early forecast for Monday and Tuesday.

A cold front moving through Northern California is bringing some gusty winds to the Sierra this morning and will push temperatures down 10 to 15 degrees by Friday.

The system is not expected to bring any precipitation to the region, but it will keep high temperatures closer to normal today.

A ridge of high pressure is expected to rebuild on Friday, pushing temperatures back up for Saturday and Sunday.

The ridge then is forecast to move east late Sunday or early Monday, allowing a low pressure system to sweep into the region.

This will bring temperatures back down again and present a slight chance of light precipitation in the Northern Sierra Monday and Tuesday.

Stay tuned for updates.

A trough of low pressure off the Pacific coast will send at least two waves of energy toward California and Nevada today and Friday, bringing cooler temperatures, windy conditions and a chance of rain and high elevation snow to the Northern Sierra.

It looks like very little of the moisture in these systems will reach the Tahoe Basin, with both waves stalling out around Interstate 80. One should arrive later this afternoon, and the second on Friday.

By Saturday the Northern Sierra will be drying out as high pressure builds across the region. The winds will continue, this time out of the Northeast. The weekend should be warmer but still breezy.

A warming trend next week will push temperatures back into the 70s in the Sierra.

A trough dropping down from the Pacific Northwest into Northern California Thursday could bring some light rain and high elevation snow to the Northern Sierra Nevada.

Temperatures will be cooler and winds will pick up Wednesday afternoon ahead of the system. On Thursday, we could see a couple of inches of snow above 7000 feet, mostly north of Interstate 80.

The trough is expected to move east on Friday as a ridge of high pressure builds over the west. Temperatures will return to near normal but breezy conditions will likely continue at least through Saturday.

Stay tuned for updates.

Rain and high elevation snow is sweeping across the Sierra this morning as a trough from the Gulf of Alaska moves inland and toward the Nevada desert.

Snow levels are still quite high, generally above 8000 feet. They’ll be dropping during the day but at the same time, the bulk of the moisture will be moving east. At this point it appears we will see no more than a heavy dusting to perhaps an inch or two below 7000 feet later today.

Skies should clear quickly on Friday as a ridge of high pressure builds along the California coast, and the weekend looks to be warm, with temperatures 5 to 7 degrees above normal.

Isolated thunderstorms may be possible along the Sierra Crest Sunday afternoon.

The warming trend will continue into next week, with temperatures in the high 60s to the low 70s around the Lake by the end of the week.

A Gulf of Alaska trough is combining with a low pressure system off the Southern California coast to bring a one-two punch of springtime moisture to the Sierra and the Tahoe Basin today and Thursday.

The first surge will be from the low pressure system as it moves inland today, bringing light rain and high-elevation snow to the region.

The main trough will remain off the coast today but move east on Thursday, bringing another round of rain and colder temperatures. Snow levels should drop from about 9000 feet today to below 7000 feet later Thursday. Depending on the time of the colder temperatures and the moisture, we could see up to six inches of snow at the mountain passes around the Basin.

It looks like things will dry out fairly quickly on Friday with a return to above normal temperatures over the weekend.

The Sierra Nevada and the Tahoe Basin have been warming up all week, and things are just getting started.

A ridge of high pressure over the mountain west promises to push temperatures even higher this weekend, with the Sierras seeing some highs in the 70s while the valleys and lower foothills approach the 90-degree mark.

Some of the forecast models are showing a chance of thunderstorms in the mountains above Tahoe Friday and Saturday afternoon, but this seems unlikely. We should see some clouds building along the Pacific Crest each day, however.

By Monday the ridge will be breaking down and moving east, opening the door to more typical spring like weather. Look for a cooling trend to take hold at the beginning of next week. In fact, one forecast model is showing a winter-like storm approaching midweek, with a chance of snow in the Northern Sierra by Wednesday.

But that’s a ways off and still quite uncertain. For now, enjoy the early glimpse of summer.

Stay tuned for updates.

Tahoe should see an increase in cloud cover today as a weak wave of energy moves through the region, but precipitation should remain north of the basin and temperatures will continue to be on the warm side.

Zonal flow behind this wave will bring several more weak surges of moisture through the Pacific Northwest this week, but Tahoe should see mainly high clouds and some gusty winds through Wednesday. Temperatures will rise to five to eight degrees above normal for this time of year.

Toward the end of the week a trough will develop off the coast, and a ridge will build over the interior. This will push high temperatures even higher toward the beginning of the weekend. Temperatures should moderate later in the weekend as the trough approaches the west coast, bringing more windy conditions and a low chance of showers to the Sierra, mainly north of Truckee.

Stay tuned for updates.

A strong winter-style storm is moving across the Sierra this morning, bringing heavy snow to the Tahoe Basin.

Peaks above 8000 feet have received about 16 inches of snow since yesterday, and more is on the way. Snow was falling at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour this morning. It has since tapered off but it is still coming. It looks like another 6 to 8 inches is possible today.

A similar amount could fall around the Lake by tonight, although warmer temperatures at the lower elevations will limit the accumulations.

Expect the snow to taper to snow showers later today, with clearing overnight or Saturday.

Temperatures should be back to normal by Sunday and a little above normal for mid-April by Monday.

A series of winter-style storms expected to bring close to two feet of snow to the Tahoe region have begun to move their way over the Sierra.

The first, on Wednesday, brought a dusting of wet snow to areas around 7000 feet.

The second, moving in this morning, delivered another 8 to 10 inches overnight with the potential for a few more inches of accumulation this morning.

The third wave will come onshore late tonight or early Friday with the main trough of low pressure that’s spawning this weather. The jet stream wants to carry the strongest energy with this system south of Tahoe, so Mammoth will likely be hammered. But the path should be close enough to Tahoe to bring us another round of heavy snowfall, with another foot to 16 inches possible along the Sierra Crest. We should see about 4 to 8 inches at lake level.

Snow should taper to snow showers Friday afternoon, with clearing by Saturday. Temperatures will gradually warm to near normal or perhaps a bit above normal by Monday.

High temperatures

Lake Level

Thursday 39
Friday 39
Saturday 46
Sunday 55

7000 feet

Thursday 34
Friday 36
Saturday 39
Sunday 50