Winter Storm Warning Issued for Greater Lake Tahoe Area: Up to 5 Feet of Snow Expected

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Reno, NV, has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Greater Lake Tahoe Area. This alert is effective from 10:00 PM PST Sunday, February 15, through 10:00 PM PST Wednesday, February 18.

Affected Areas

The warning covers the Greater Lake Tahoe Area in both California and Nevada. Specific locations impacted include the Tahoe Basin, with significant effects expected on the west shore and throughout much of Alpine County.

What You Should Do

Residents and travelers are advised to prepare for hazardous conditions. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Travel could be very difficult to impossible due to periods of whiteout conditions. To check the latest road conditions, call 5-1-1.

Expected Conditions

• Snow Accumulations: 2 to 3 feet are expected in the Tahoe Basin, with the highest amounts on the west shore and in Alpine County. At elevations above 7,000 feet, accumulations of 3 to 5 feet are forecast.
• Wind Speeds: Valley areas can expect gusts between 35 and 45 mph. Sierra ridge gusts are forecast to exceed 100 mph, which may cause damage to trees and power lines.
• Visibility: Heavy snow and strong winds will likely create periods of whiteout conditions.

Timeline

The Winter Storm Warning begins at 10:00 PM PST on Sunday, February 15. The highest snowfall rates are expected to occur from late Monday afternoon through Tuesday evening. The warning is scheduled to expire at 10:00 PM PST on Wednesday, February 18.