Lake Tahoe weather: Foot of snow possible as SnowFest! begins
kmacmillan@sierrasun.com
TAHOE CITY, Calif. — It’s only fitting that snow would be in the forecast for the kick-off to Lake Tahoe’s biggest winter festival.
The greater Truckee-Tahoe region will be under a winter weather advisory from 4 p.m. Friday to 4 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.
Six to 12 inches of snow is possible above 7,000 feet, with 3 to 7 inches forecast at lake level.
“Snow showers will begin Friday afternoon and intensify Friday night and Saturday,” according to the advisory.
NWS also is forecasting chances of snow Sunday, Monday and Tuesday; sunny skies could return by Wednesday.
As is the case with most Sierra storms, conditions will make driving a challenge. Snow tire or chain restrictions will likely be in effect along most highways and passes, including Interstate 80, U.S. Highway 50, California highways 28, 89 and 267, and Nevada highways 28, 207 and 431.
Should the forecast pan out, it would create ideal snow conditions as the 34th annual SnowFest! winter carnival gets under way with opening ceremonies, a torchlight parade and the Queen coronation Friday night at Squaw Valley, followed by a Saturday full of events across the North Shore.
Saturday will be punctuated by the annual SnowFest! parade in Tahoe City on Highway 28 between the Safeway and SaveMart grocery stores.
The highway will be closed to through traffic from 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
To learn more about this year’s SnowFest! events, visit tahoesnowfestival.com.
Support Local Journalism
Support Local Journalism
Readers around Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and beyond make the Sierra Sun's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.
Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.
Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.