A storm is expected to bring low elevation rain and high elevation snow to the region Monday through Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

A Winter Weather Advisory had been issued for the Lake Tahoe Basin while a Winter Storm Warning has been issued for Mono County in California, according to the latest NWS forecast discussion.

According to the advisory, heavy snow is expected above 7,000 feet with snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches and up to 2 feet along the Sierra crest, while 1 to 3 inches of snow accumulation is expected at lake level. Ridge winds are expected to gust up to 60 mph.

The Winter Weather Advisory for Lake Tahoe is from 11 a.m. Monday to 11 a.m. Wednesday and the Winter Storm Warning for Mono County is also from 11 a.m. Monday to 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Snowfall will likely impact travel in the Sierra, especially through mountain passes. See NVroads.com for the latest travel conditions.

The advisory area is shaded blue and the warning is shaded red. Credit: National Weather Service

Forecasters note Monday morning will bring a wave of moisture in the form of light rain to northeast California and northwest Nevada with a rain-snow mix around the Lake Tahoe Basin. While the prevailing snow level looks to range from 6,500 to 7,000 feet on Monday, some snow may occur down to lake level, according to the weather service.

For Tuesday and Tuesday night, the eventual inland storm track will determine where the greatest impacts will be, forecasters said.

While Mono County is targeted for potential convective snow bands Tuesday afternoon and evening, additional swaths of moisture could spread farther north across western Nevada if the low moves close enough. Valley areas could see some rain showers from the system.

However, if the system tracks farther south, these areas would see much less in the way of additional precipitation after the main Monday night, Tuesday morning round moves through, forecasters said. The low and its associated precipitation is expected to leave from west central Nevada by late Tuesday night, forecasters said.

From Wednesday into early next weekend, a drier weather pattern returns with temperatures slowly warming to near mid-October averages by Friday or Saturday, forecasters said. Another storm is then on the horizon by late next weekend.