Get the snow shovels and ice scrapers ready — the first winter storm of the season is heading toward Tahoe. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for the Greater Lake Tahoe Area, in effect from 11 a.m. Monday to 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Heavy snow is expected above 7,000 feet, with 6 to 12 inches of accumulation possible and up to a foot along the Sierra Crest. At lake level, 1 to 3 inches of snow is expected. Ridge winds could gust up to 60 mph.

The storm could create hazardous travel conditions, particularly through mountain passes such as Donner Pass, Carson Pass and Ebbetts Pass. Drivers should expect delays during the Monday evening and Tuesday morning commutes, and gusty winds could bring down tree branches.

The weather service urges motorists to slow down and use caution while traveling, and to call 511 for the latest road conditions.

“The average for mid-mountain at Palisades is now around 5″ of snow,” said weather forecaster Bryan Allegretto. “There are still a few forecasting more if the storm trends back farther north with its track.”

One inch of snow is expected in Truckee and 2 inches in South Lake Tahoe over the next one to five days, according to OpenSnow.

“The storm clears the region on Thursday with drier and seasonal weather expected through mid-month and into the 3rd week of October,” said Allegretto.

According to the weather service, forecast models suggest another storm may be on the horizon by late next weekend, though there remains a wide range of possible tracks — from brushing the Oregon border to a more direct impact on the Sierra.