Those with Christmas travel plans over the mountain passes may want to get a start Monday as a winter storm is forecast to bring Sierra snow by Tuesday, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Winter Weather advisory for Lake Tahoe and the Sierra.
The advisory is Tuesday from 7 a.m., to 7 p.m. Christmas Eve for the Sierra, likely to impact holiday-bound travelers. The storm will bring gusty winds, valley rain and mountain snow.
See NVroads.com or Caltrans here for the latest road conditions.
The Sierra above 7,000 feet is most is likely to see its heaviest snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches an hour over a longer duration and around 3 to 6 inches hours around mid to late Tuesday morning, according to the weather service.
Forecasters note there is potential of snowfall rates of 3 inches an hour along the Sierra crest. Snow levels begin above 7,000 feet before falling to 6,000 feet in the afternoon, so rain will likely switch to snow for Sierra passes and lower elevation Sierra communities north of Mono County before the afternoon of Christmas Eve, forecasters said.
“The caveat to this being the potential that heavier showers lower snow levels earlier in the morning than expected,” NWS forecasters said in the latest weather discussion. “Also, don’t be surprised to hear some rumbles of thunder amid the falling Sierra snow Tuesday morning.”
Meanwhile, periods of rain will impact portions of western Nevada along with wind, the strongest likely to happen during the morning of Christmas Eve with most locales having a 30 to 50 percent chance of gusts exceeding 40 mph, forecasters said.
The second part of Tuesday’s storm will likely occur in the late morning and afternoon once the cold front passes through, NWS forecasters said. Snow levels lower further during this time, most notably in Mono County, and approach 5,500 feet by Tuesday evening. There will be likely quick bursts of rain and snow, above 5,500 feet to 6,000 feet, in the afternoon and early evening before showers wrap up Tuesday night.
Forecasters have not ruled out isolated lightning with the stronger showers in the afternoon. By Christmas morning, 8 to 12 inches of snow will likely have fallen along the Sierra crest with 30 to 60 chance of exceeding a foot of snowfall, forecasters said.
Meanwhile, communities near lake level will likely see 1-3 inches with an outside chance of 4 inches or more. Forecasters note that a dusting of snow is possible in the foothills and Virginia City by Christmas morning.
Christmas Day will see clearing skies and chilly conditions with daytime highs in the upper 30s and 40s.
After Christmas Day, a series of quick-moving storms will may bring additional showers and increased winds on Thursday and Friday, with perhaps a stronger storm lurking around Dec. 29. Ensembles continue to favor the emergence of a drier weather pattern to ring in 2025.
Traveling by air? To keep holiday cheer high and stress low, the Reno-Tahoe International Airport reminds passengers to allow extra time for parking and navigating the terminal during peak times. Parking will be in high demand. Overflow parking may add time to your trip, so plan ahead. See the website for parking updates.
