CALIFORNIA, USA — A second, much stronger winter storm packing heavy snow is headed for the Sierra this weekend after a cold front dropped a half-foot of fresh powder at Lake Tahoe ski resorts and a couple inches in the valleys around Reno.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch effective from Saturday evening through Tuesday evening for Lake Tahoe and areas to the north. The service says several feet of snow is possible with winds up to 100 mph over mountain ridges.
One to 3 feet of snow is possible around Tahoe, with up to 9 feet possible above elevations of 7,000 feet.
Weekend Storm Watch
Ahead of the storm in Northern California, a Frost Advisory will be in place from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday with lows into the upper 20s and lowers 30s.
"A very similar situation Saturday morning as well before we start to track this big weather system coming in for the end of our weekend and through much of next week," said Chief Meteorologist Monica Woods.
A Winter Storm Watch is in place for Saturday evening through Tuesday night with anywhere from two to nine feet of snow possible. The storm brings some benefits with big rain and snowfall to help fill reservoirs, but it could also bring flood hazards and travel delays.
"A couple of things that we're considering, obviously the morning frost both Friday and Saturday but when we look at this big storm coming in, the reason why we're putting it as an AR3 (Atmospheric River Category 3) is not only the strength of the storm, but the duration how long it'll be staying in place," Woods said.
The storm starts Sunday and continues through Monday and possibly Tuesday night. Rain totals could range from about one to three inches from Sacramento through Stockton and Modesto with bigger totals north of I-80.
For a full breakdown on the weekend storm, click HERE or watch the video below.
"Excited for the snow" at Boreal Mountain
As much as eight inches came down in some parts of the Sierra, which was exciting news due to it being the first significant snow storm since October. With more snow on the way, locals are hopeful it’ll bring crowds.
Many places in the Lake Tahoe area like Truckee rely on tourism to fuel their economy, but they've taken a hit due to the pandemic and weather.
Arturo Ruvalcava, employee with the Sock Parlour, said the it's taken a toll on the amount of visitors the specialty shop has seen.
“I’m excited for the snow, and it’ll be good for business,” he said.
While businesses might be excited for the incoming snow, they might not hold a candle to some outdoor enthusiasts.
“We’ve been totally waiting for this, and we’re dying out here. I mean, this is a very slow start. You know, I’ve had a pass at Squaw for 29 years; this definitely ranks probably the top 5 worst winters I’ve seen out there,” said Chuck Vogt at Boreal Mountain.