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

Rain moves through quickly

Thursday April 26

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.

Rain, snow likely today, Thursday

Wednesday April 25

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.

Summer like temps this weekend

Thursday April 19

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.

Warm week ahead

Monday April 16 2012

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.

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