This one will also be relatively dry, but extremely cold temperatures should drive snow to water ratios up toward 20 percent. That could at least allow the system to wring every last snowflake possible out of its limited moisture. Look for a couple of inches around the lake with as much as 4 or 5 inches possible above 7,000 feet by Wednesday afternoon, especially on the north side of Tahoe. We’re just getting the very southern edge of this system, so if it comes in a little further north than its current track suggests, those snow totals could be even lower.

Thursday and Friday should see a warming trend as a ridge of high pressure builds over the region. Another storm is on track to push up against that ridge late Friday into Saturday. Still too early to say how much of a punch it will pack.

Stay tuned for details as they emerge.

Forecast Highs

Tahoe City

Tuesday 32
Wednesday 29
Thursday 43

At 7000 feet

Tuesday 23
Wednesday 25
Thursday 43

Regional radar with rain/snow mix:

The first one is already being felt in the far northern part of the state, and should reach the Northern Sierra by this afternoon. Temperatures will drop, winds will pick up and some brief but locally heavy snow showers are possible. But even in the areas favored by precipitation, snow totals are likely to be on the light side. Look for just a few inches along the Sierra Crest and a dusting at lower elevations. Some thunderstorms are possible in the foothills along the western slope as the air will become very unstable. A lake wind advisory has been issued for Lake Tahoe as high winds are expected to kick up waves several feet high. It is going to be a cold, blustery day, folks. But this fast-moving system should be through the area overnight, leaving Tuesday morning mostly clear and cold.

We’ll do it all over again Tuesday night and Wednesday as a similar system moves through. But the second one will be even further to the north and just as fast-moving. Snow totals could be even lower than with today’s storm.

The rest of the week looks to warm up under the influence of a strengthening area of high pressure. A larger storm is possible for the weekend if it can make its way past that ridge.

Stay tuned for details as they emerge.

Forecast Highs

Tahoe City

Monday 36
Tuesday 32
Wednesday 32

At 7000 feet

Monday 25
Tuesday 29
Wednesday 29

Regional radar with rain/snow mix:

This storm will be cold but fairly dry, with forecasts showing only a quarter-inch of precipitation even in the mountains. We should see something between a dusting and a few inches of snow Monday night through Tuesday. Temperatures will plunge with the arrival of this system and snow levels will be quite low, perhaps 2500 feet. Lows on Tuesday morning will be in the teens, perhaps in the single digits at the higher elevations.

Another system is forecast to brush passt Tahoe late Tuesday into Wednesday. This one will also be cold and could deliver a few more inches of snow, but major accumulations are not likely.

After that, a ridge of high pressure will bring at least a brief warming trend on Thursday and possibly Friday. A more powerful storm system is forecast to push up against the ridge Friday or Saturday. If it makes it past the barrier it could be a decent little storm. But it is too soon to say whether it will force its way through or be shunted aside.

Stay tuned for details as they emerge.

Forecast Highs

Tahoe City

Sunday 43
Monday 36
Tuesday 32

At 7000 feet

Sunday 40
Monday 29
Tuesday 29

Regional radar with rain/snow mix:

Some of that moisture from the backside of the low might still reach as far north as Tahoe later today and Sunday. But we are likely to see only clouds and perhaps some scattered snow showers at most. No major accumulations are expected.

The next trough of low pressure is already streaming our way from the Pacific Northwest and is expected to skirt the north state Sunday night and Monday. This system will be quite cold and bring low snow levels to Northern California. But only its far southern edge will reach Tahoe, so we’re looking at a few inches of snow at most on Monday if it even comes this far south. That system should be moving east on Tuesday, and the rest of the work week looks to be warmer under the influence of an area of high pressure building over the Great Basin.

Stay tuned for details as they emerge.

Forecast Highs

Tahoe City

Saturday 40
Sunday 43
Monday 36
Tuesday 31

At 7000 feet

Saturday 38
Sunday 34
Monday 34
Tuesday 29

Regional radar with rain/snow mix:

The opposite story is set for Sunday, as a more typical Pacific low moves across Washington and Oregon. This one will be too far north to bring much if any precipitation to Tahoe, with most of its rain and snow staying in far Northern California or north of the state border.

After that the high pressure ridge rebuilds and will probably shunt most of our weather north next week. Several storms are in line to make a run at us but unless something nudges that high pressure aside, none of them will be able to have much impact here.

Stay tuned for details as they emerge.

Forecast Highs

Tahoe City

Friday 40
Saturday 40
Sunday 41

At 7000 feet

Friday 29
Saturday 31
Sunday 36

Regional radar with rain/snow mix:

Friday also looks fair, at least in the morning. Another low pressure system moving south from the Gulf of Alaska will be tracking down the California coast Friday and Saturday. It will be difficult to pinpoint the precipitation from this system until late in the game because its potential will depend on how close to the coast it stays as it drifts south. Earlier forecast models had it veering too far west to do much of anything for the Sierra. The latest models have the system closer to the coast, giving it the potential to bring at least some clouds and snow showers to Tahoe Friday and Saturday. But unless it moves even further east as it arrives, we do not expect to see major new accumulations from this system.

Another system out of the northwest will move through far Northern California on Sunday, but it is expected to be too far north to have much effect on Tahoe. Expect some clouds for now and maybe some snow showers Sunday and Monday but again, probably not any major accumulations.

Stay tuned for details as they emerge.

Forecast Highs

Tahoe City

Thursday 34
Friday 38
Saturday 38

At 7000 feet

Thursday 27
Friday 29
Saturday 29

Regional radar with rain/snow mix:

WEDNESDAY MARCH 3, 6:09 AM… The first pulse from a low pressure system moving across the Sierra Tuesday and today pummeled California’s Central Valley with thunderstorms and heavy downpours, but brought only modest snow totals to the Sierra. We’ve seen about 4 to 6 inches of snow so far at 7,000 feet on the North Side of the Basin. The resorts are reporting similar amounts. But more is coming today.

The main piece of energy from this cold Gulf of Alaska low is forecast to cross the mountains later today. Temperatures will be well below normal and, while the system does not have a huge amount of moisture coming with it, the cold temperatures will increase snow-to-water ratios and boost snow totals. ..Look for another 10 to 12 inches above 7,000 feet by Thursday morning, with much of that falling Wednesday afternoon as the core of the low passes over the area. Snow levels should be down to about 2,500 feet.

The low will move into Nevada by Thursday but will leave cold temperatures and perhaps a few scattered snow showers in its wake. Friday should be fair with temperatures beginning to creep back toward normal.

The weekend forecast is still uncertain. A low pressure system is tracking down the coast but is looking as if it will drift too far west over the Pacific to bring much precipitation to the Sierra. We should still see clouds and perhaps some snow, but the final amounts will depend on how far south the low goes before it decides to move inland.

Stay tuned for details as they emerge.

Forecast Highs

Tahoe City

Wednesday 36
Thursday 34
Friday 38

At 7000 feet

Wednesday 25
Thursday 25
Friday 29

Regional radar with rain/snow mix:

The first wave is moving onshore now, bringing rain already to Northern California and the Bay Area. Rain and snow should be moving into the Sierra this afternoon, with snow levels at or above 6,000 feet. This system is likely to produce just a few inches of new snow for Tahoe this afternoon and tonight.

A second stronger and much colder low pressure system is forecast for Wednesday. Snow levels are likely to drop to 2,500 feet or below with this system, which will also bring high winds and blowing snow. The heaviest snowfall looks likely to occur Wednesday afternoon. Snow-to-water ratios should be high with these colder temperatures, allowing the system to wring maximum snow out of its potential precipitation. And the snow that does fall should be the lightest we’ve seen in a while. This will not be Sierra Cement. This second wave could bring as much as another foot of snow, depending on how quickly it moves through the region.

By Thursday the low pressure should be moving into Nevada, but temperatures will remain several degrees below normal in the storm’s wake.

Another system that looked possible for the weekend is now looking more iffy — with the low possibly drifting down the coast to Southern California for a day or two before finally moving inland,

Stay tuned for details as they emerge.

Forecast Highs

Tahoe City

Tuesday 40
Wednesday 31
Thursday 36

At 7000 feet

Tuesday 32
Wednesday 23
Thursday 29

Regional radar with rain/snow mix:

This storm will come in two pulses. The first will be weak and warm as a shortwave of energy breaks off from the main low and pushes across the Sierra on Tuesday. Snow levels should be at or above 6,000 feet, with just a few inches of snow possible. By Wednesday however the core of the low pressure system will be moving across the region, and it will bring much colder temperatures and more precipitation to the Basin. Snow levels should drop to lake level, and areas above 7,000 feet could see a foot or more of new snow. Snow showers are likely to linger into Wednesday night or even Thursday with this system.

Once that storm exits, the rest of Thursday and most of Friday should be fair and warmer. Another, very cold storm is brewing in the Gulf of Alaska and it could hit Tahoe by the weekend. But some of the computer forecast models are showing that low-pressure system drifting off the coast of California all the way down to SoCal before moving it inland. If that happens, it won’t be much of a storm for us.

Stay tuned for details as they emerge.

Forecast Highs

Tahoe City

Monday 50
Tuesday 41
Wednesday 36

At 7000 feet

Monday 45
Tuesday 38
Wednesday 23

Regional radar with rain/snow mix:

Winds should begin to pick up Monday night ahead of the next storm, which is due by Tuesday morning. This storm will likely arrive in two pulses, one burst of energy ahead of the cold front and then the core of the low pressure system on Wednesday. Snow levels will start out on the high side, though still probably below 6,000 feet, then plummet as the cold front arrives on Wednesday, probably down to 4,000 feet or below. With a decent moisture tap from the Pacific this system has the potential to deliver another foot or more of new snow to Tahoe, and perhaps twice that further south. This is Mammoth’s year, folks, with almost every storm drifting south as it arrives in California. But we are doing well right now and we’re about to get some more.

Thursday and Friday should be fair, but another storm is on the horizon for the weekend.

Stay tuned for details as the next storms approach.

Forecast Highs

Tahoe City

Sunday 41
Monday 50
Tuesday 43

At 7000 feet

Sunday 45
Monday 49
Tuesday 38

Regional radar with rain/snow mix: