Trio of snow storms forecast this week

The storm door is open, and this week area ski resorts are forecast to get the thick blanket of snow they’ve been praying for.

Three cold snow storms are lined up and predicted to blow through Tahoe-Truckee, dumping up to 2 feet of snow at lake level.

As much as 4 feet of snow could fall at higher elevations by Friday.

After light snow tapers off Monday from the first system, a colder, stronger storm is expected to start Monday night and continue well into Tuesday, leaving behind a foot of snow at lake level with 2 feet of powder in the mountains.

Light showers on Wednesday will give way to a second storm expected to pass over the Sierra Nevada on Thursday and Friday, which forecasters say will likely also drop a foot of snow at lake level and more on area peaks.

After a dry November where storms were blocked by a ridge of high pressure, the area is now in the storm path, meteorologists said.

“We had a ridge of high pressure, and once it moved, the door opens,” said Scott McGuire of the National Weather Service office in Reno.

“It’s definitely going to be a very active week next week,” said McGuire.

All three storms are riding a system heading southeast, dropping down from the Gulf of Alaska.

While temperatures warmed up this weekend, the storms’ cold front will settle the air temperature back down to the low 30s during the day, and lower 20s at night.

National Weather Service models show more disturbances likely to sweep through the Sierra later in the week, with clearing not expected until Friday.

Forecasters are also tracking a fourth storm system that could reach the area before Christmas, but are uncertain of its strength or path.

“As we all know with these systems, the trajectory and the timing all make a difference with the snowfall totals,” said McGuire.