TahoeLoco's exclusive Tahoe-centric forecast summaries and weather reports. Updated at least daily, and more often as conditions change.

Small storm likely for Tuesday

MONDAY FEBRUARY 8, 5:27 am….Another calm day in the Sierra today ahead of a modest storm forecast for Tuesday.

A low pressure system forming in the Gulf of Alaska is expected to drift south over the Pacific just off the coast of California Tuesday. As it passes by Northern California, its eastern edge should be far east enough to bring snow and snow showers to the western slope of the Sierra, the crest and parts of the Tahoe Basin. The system is not going to be tapping into much moisture, but it will be a cold one, and its dynamics are favorable to getting the most out of whatever moisture is there. So it’s possible this one could drop 6 to 8 inches at the Crest between early Tuesday morning and Tuesday night. Snow levels should be below 5,000 feet.

The final track of this system will be crucial. If the low drifts just a little bit further off the coast, that could really limit the snowfall because it would pull the eastern edge of the energy off the Sierra. If it drifts a little closer to the coast that could bring us a bit more snow at the crest and also push more snow over into the Basin and the Eastern Sierra.

The low pressure system is forecast to slide all the way along the coast and into Southern California Tuesday night. In its wake a ridge of high pressure will briefly build, bringing fair skies to Tahoe on Wednesday and Thursday.

Another storm is due late Thursday into Friday. Still too soon to say how strong this one will be but it looks like another modest event from this distance.

Stay tuned for updates as these storms approach.

Forecast Highs

Tahoe City

Monday 36
Tuesday 31
Wednesday 36

At 7000 feet

Monday 32
Tuesday 27
Wednesday 34

Regional radar with rain/snow mix:

Fair today, Monday

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7, 5:25 am….The center of a low pressure system that brought nearly a foot of new snow to the higher elevations of the Tahoe region has moved into the desert southwest, with just some cloud cover and low fog in its wake. There is still a chance of a wrap-around shower or two today as some energy spins around the backside of the low, but that’s not likely to reach as far north as Tahoe, so Super Bowl Sunday should be mostly fair. Same for Monday, before a new low from the Gulf of Alaska begins to drift down the California coast with the potential to send some precipitation our way. This one is looking like a pretty weak storm, however, so don’t expect more than a few snow showers or light snowfall at best. It will be colder though, so any snow that does fall should be at lower elevations. Mid-week is looking fair again before another weak system moves in by Thursday or Friday.

At the moment there are no big dumps in the forecast, just these modest little fresheners and nuisance showers.

Stay tuned for updates. We will be the first to let you know when there is some real snow on the horizon.

Forecast Highs

Tahoe City

Sunday 34
Monday 36
Tuesday 31

At 7000 feet

Sunday 27
Monday 32
Tuesday 27

Regional radar with rain/snow mix:

Snow showers — some heavy — today

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 6, 5:55 am….The second pulse of a double-barreled but not very strong low pressure system is moving into the Sierra this morning and will keep Tahoe’s weather unsettled for the rest of the day. This system is splitting badly as it moves inland, with most of its force going south. But it still has the potential to produce isolated bursts of heavy snowfall that could lead to accumulations of 3 to 6 inches in favored locations. Due to the convective nature of the system we might also see some thunderheads, at least in the foothills, and some lightning and thunder are possible.

This system should be winding down by late today. Sunday and Monday look to be calm and at least partly sunny.

Next week’s weather will be unsettled but also uncertain. Two storms — one on Tuesday, another Thursday or Friday — are on the horizon. But both are threatening to go south on us, much as this weekend’s system has done. So it is too early to say how much snow we are likely to get from them. The first one seems to be a modest storm at best. The second one still holds a little more potential depending on the track it takes over California.

Stay tuned for updates.

Forecast Highs

Tahoe City

Saturday 34
Sunday 34
Monday 36

At 7000 feet

Saturday 29
Sunday 27
Monday 32

Regional radar with rain/snow mix:

Storm disappoints; 12 inches still possible

UPDATE 8:35 PM…..The second wave from this storm is still looming offshore but increasingly looks like it will be drifting further south before it crosses the Sierra. We should still see some clouds tonight and Saturday and some scattered snow showers but very little accumulation. Kirkwood and other points south have the best chance of picking up at least a few more inches.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5, 5:35 am….A low pressure system bringing rain and snow to the Tahoe region is performing at the lower end of the forecast range, dropping only about 6 inches of snow so far at 7,000 feet and the snow tapering to showers. A few more inches of accumulation are still possible in favored locations from this first pulse this morning before it gives way to partly cloudy skies later today. The second pulse, due this afternoon or tonight, is already looking as if it will take most of its energy south of Tahoe. Snow levels will be lower with this second surge, and between the two, some spots above 7,000 feet might still see a foot of new snow. But most parts of the Tahoe Basin will get far less than that.

The National Weather Service office in Sacramento has downgraded its Winter Storm Warning to a Winter Weather Advisory.

Clouds and scattered snow showers will likely linger into Saturday over parts of the region as a ridge of high pressure briefly builds behind this storm. Sunday should be calm and mostly clear, and Monday looks similar. The next storm is possible late Monday or Tuesday but it is not looking like a strong one.

Stay tuned for updates.

Forecast Highs

Tahoe City

Friday 36
Saturday 34
Sunday 34

At 7000 feet

Friday 31
Saturday 29
Sunday 31

Regional radar with rain/snow mix:

Next Page »