Forecast and weather thoughts:

I’ve been out on the East Coast for the past week. It’s good to be back in Tahoe to get back into the 2024 winter weather narrative.

This afternoon winds have come up from the SW along with some streaks of high clouds approaching from the NW. Despite this, temps. around the lake have flirted with 50 from Carnelian down to SLT. This glimpse of spring will end abruptly tonight with the arrival of a weak storm system.

Winds and clouds will increase this evening and likely give way to some rain showers by daybreak, transitioning to snow around the lake tomorrow morning. Snow showers should prevail for most of tomorrow before tapering off tomorrow evening. With some luck, backcountry areas could see up to 6″ of new snow by Monday night. Sierra communities will be lucky to see more than an inch.

Cold air behind this system will make things feel again like winter with lows tomorrow night back into the teens and low 20’s with highs on Tues. in the upper 20’s and 30’s. Temps will moderate on Weds. under sunny skies before the next round of big snow approaches the area.

Both the GFS and Euro model are in agreement with a significant cycle of big snow targeting the Tahoe Sierra starting Thurs. and lasting potentially through the weekend. These storms will come in from the NW out of the Gulf of Alaska, a classic scenario bringing cold, unstable air and plenty of moisture into the Sierra.

Winter looks far from over.