Tahoe City, California 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

552
FXUS65 KREV 162017
AFDREV

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
1217 PM PST Mon Feb 16 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Major Winter Storm is Here: The first period of heavy snowfall
  continues through this evening with the next round Tuesday. Feet
  of snow expected across the Sierra with widespread travel
  disruptions expected through Wednesday. Another quick moving storm
  is increasing snow changes for Thursday at all elevations.

* Strong Winds and Blowing Snow: Tuesday`s storm will be colder with
  lighter, fluffier snow as snow levels crash to all valley floors.
  This, combined with strong Sierra wind gusts up to 50 mph (100+mph
  at crest), will cause blowing snow and periods of whiteout
  conditions.

* Foothill, Valley Floor Snow impacts: Snow is most likely in
  Western Nevada foothills areas above 5500 feet today, with
  rain/snow mix at times for valleys. For Tuesday, gusty winds with
  increasing snow during the day, with greatest snow impacts (40-80%
  of at least 4") for the Tuesday PM/Wednesday AM commutes.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

What You Can Do:
* Check the roads before you go! Call 5 1 1 or check CalTrans or
  NDOT.
* If you must travel, keep a winter kit in your vehicle.
* Plan on significant delays in travel with increased risk of
  road closures and chain controls. Set the alarm a little earlier
  the next few mornings.
* Keep an eye on the detailed forecast at www.weather.gov where you
  can read all the latest Winter Storm products.

Here are the forecast conditions and impacts for the region through
Wednesday morning. For ALL the science-y snow details, see the
Avalanche section below.

Today`s Briefing - www.weather.gov/rev/BriefingPage

----------------------------------------------------

EASTERN SIERRA AND NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA:

* Bottom Line Up Front: Non-emergency travel is strongly discouraged
  with heavy snowfall rates and periods of whiteout conditions
  forecast through early Wednesday morning.

* Timing: Snow continues through this evening with lighter snow
  showers around 12am. The next shot of snow arrives by 4am-7am
  and continues through early Wednesday morning.

* Snow Totals through Wednesday:

     Tahoe Basin: 2 to 3 feet, highest on west shore & Alpine
county, Above 7k feet: 3 to 5 feet.

     Mono County: 1 to 3 feet along and west of US-395, 3 to 5 feet
at highest elevations of Sierra crest. 2 to 6 inches for Chalfant
Valley.

    NE CA: Surprise Valley 2 to 6 inches, 6 to 12 inches west of
US-395, localized totals up to 2 feet west of Highway 89, 4 to 8
inches for valley areas, including Susanville and Doyle areas.


* Winds: Plan on strong winds through Tuesday night. Gusts of 50-60
  mph are likely (>60%) for wind prone areas in Mono County, with
  other areas in the Sierra gusting as high as 40-50 mph. Otherwise,
  ridgetop gusts will likely top 100 mph. Gusty winds will create
  areas of blowing snow and low visibility at times.

----------------------------------------------------

WESTERN NEVADA:

* Bottom Line Up Front: Rain/snow mix into this evening with light
  accumulations for elevations near and above 5500 feet. Main
  impacts start this evening for northwest NV and late tonight for
  western NV as snow levels drop to all valley floors. Plan on
  hazardous travel midday Tuesday through the Wednesday AM commutes.

* Changes: Winter Storm Warning in effect for Reno, Carson City,
  Minden locales Tuesday.

* Timing: Rain or a rain-snow mix will continue for most areas, with
  some breaks especially from I-80 southward this afternoon. There
  could be some light snow accumulations after 6pm tonight,
  especially for areas I-80 northward. The heaviest snow spreads
  across most areas from Tuesday through Wednesday morning.

* Snow Totals: This evening, light accumulations (1" or less)
  below 5500 feet, with 1-3" of wet snow above 5500 feet.
  Through Wednesday AM, at least 4" down around the Reno-Carson
  metro areas and for northwest NV, and 6-12+" for foothills above
  5000 ft. For west central NV, up to 3" with around 6" for
  higher terrain.

* Winds: Southwest wind gusts up to 45 mph are likely (>70%), with
  higher 50+ mph gusts in wind-prone areas. Periods of blowing snow
  possible with lower visibility late tonight into Tuesday.


----------------------------------------------------

By Wednesday, there will still be some residual snow showers ongoing
in the Sierra, but we will start to see some clearing for areas of
western Nevada. Although it will be a very brief break. Another
system kicks in on this storm`s heels bringing more snow
Thursday-early Friday. Friday and Saturday will be quite chilly,
but offer a bit of a break between the storms. There are signals
for another storm by next weekend, so it appears we have finally
entered a more winter-like pattern with an open storm door.

-Edan


 &&

.AVIATION...

* For Sierra terminals, widespread aviation impacts through
  Wednesday morning. Plan on prolonged periods of IFR/LIFR
  conditions, particularly on Tuesday, with significant snow
  accumulations on runways and gusty-strong winds producing
  widespread turbulence and shear.

* Western Nevada terminals will see mainly rain through this
  afternoon with MVFR/brief IFR conditions. Snow could mix in with
  the rain at times through the evening, with less than 10% chance
  for 1" of snow accumulation. Winds and LLWS increase tonight-
  Tuesday, with surface gusts 30-40 kt at times. For Tuesday, snow
  begins between 15-18Z and becomes nearly continuous until around
  06-08Z, with at least a 40% chance for runway accumulations at
  least 4" at the main terminals. MJD

&&

.AVALANCHE...

Our major, multi-day winter storm is here! Widespread heavy snow
is projected from today through early Wednesday morning.

* Snowfall totals and rates: Through early Wednesday morning, 2-4
  feet of snow along the crest, with up to 5 feet in southern Mono
  county. Heaviest snowfall rates will be this afternoon, with
  rates of 1-2"/hr across most avalanche center terrain (localized
  rates of 3+"/hr in southern Mono county). Another round of
  higher snowfall rates kicks off around 10 am Tuesday that will
  persist through the evening.

* SLRs and SWE: Lower SLRs at the onset of the storm system (10-
  12:1), increasing to 13-14:1 by late tonight. The coldest air
  arrives Tuesday, increasing SLRs to 15-16:1. SWE of 2.5-4" through
  early Wednesday morning, with up to 5" along the highest peaks,
  mainly in the Tahoe Basin and southern Mono county.

* Ridgetop gusts: Southwest winds with gusts of 50-60 mph today
  (locally higher in southern Mono county) increase to 70-90 mph by
  late tonight. Peak wind gusts of 100+ mph.

-Giralte/Edan

Avalanche Weather webpage - www.weather.gov/rev/Avalancheweather

&&


.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Winter Weather Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 4 AM PST
     Wednesday NVZ001-005.

     Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM PST Wednesday NVZ002.

     Winter Storm Warning from 7 AM Tuesday to 4 AM PST Wednesday
     NVZ003.

     Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM Tuesday to 4 AM PST Wednesday
     NVZ004.

CA...Winter Weather Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 4 AM PST
     Wednesday CAZ070.

     Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM PST Wednesday CAZ071>073.

&&

$$