Get ready to hunker down. An epic snowstorm is supposed to hit the Lake Tahoe region, likely starting Thursday morning and sticking around until Sunday morning.
How big is this storm” Huge! Lake Tahoe communities could see snow accumulations between 2 and 4 feet, with 4 to 8 feet of snow expected above 7,000 feet, reports the National Weather Service. A blizzard warning will be in effect 10 a.m. Thursday (Feb. 29) to 10 a.m. Sunday.
“If you do make your way out here, please take it slow and be patient; ride with a buddy and keep them in sight,” said a Kirkwood twitter message. “Also, avoid getting close to tree wells, only slash powder in open terrain (don’t duck ropes), and pack your snorkel because it’s about to be KirkwoodDeep.”
This storm will definitely be measured in feet, not inches According to weather forecaster Bryan Allegretto of OpenSnow.com, the last time Tahoe experienced a storm this big was around the same time last season when 92 inches were reported from Feb. 27 to March 1.
“We’ll have to see if we can rival that storm,” wrote Allegretto. “Expect lift closures Thursday from the strong winds, and (many) ski resorts possibly closing (entirely) Friday, with a delayed opening Saturday as mountain ops digs out and performs avalanche controls.”
The winds are expected to be brutal, starting with gusts over 100 mph over the ridges Thursday and 50-60 mph winds could be blowing at Tahoe ski resort base levels through Friday. The winds should drop through the day on Saturday and lighter winds are expected Sunday.
Meteorologists say storms of this magnitude are rare and capable of closing major roads and damaging power infrastructure for extended periods of time. People are urged to prepare before the storm hits by stocking up on food and water, and having a secondary heat source for more than several days in case of extended power outages.
Also as a precaution, travel in or out of the Lake Tahoe area should be avoided. If you must travel over Sierra mountain passes, do it before the storm arrives because commuting could become impossible and life-threatening.
“It’s our biggest storm of the season this winter,” Colin Mckellar, a meteorologist with the weather service in Reno. “Travelers should plan to get on the road before 4 a.m. Thursday or after Sunday morning to avoid the worst of the weather.”
The storm should impact the greater Lake Tahoe area, including the cities of Glenbrook, Incline Village, Truckee, Stateline, South Lake Tahoe, Markleeville and Tahoe City, the weather service said. Blizzard conditions are likely, particularly from Friday evening through Saturday morning.
“The strong winds and weight of snow on tree limbs may down power lines and could cause sporadic power outages,” the weather service said in its winter storm warning. “Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening.”
SIERRA-AT-TAHOE CLOSED FRIDAY: The “storm of the season” is living up to the hype with 5-7 feet forecasted over the next three days, which has led the ski resort off Highway 50 near South Lake Tahoe to already announce a Friday (March 1) closing.
“Due to the intensity of the first two waves of the storm anticipated to hit over the next 24 hours, Sierra will be closed on Friday to preserve the safety of our guests and employees,” said Sierra-at-Tahoe in an email. “Hunker down, follow the webcams as we ride out the storm and be ready to get powder stashes in your March mustaches.”
ALPINE NOT OPEN FRIDAY: Due to the large snowfall totals we are expecting (perhaps 50 inches in the next 24 hours), Palisades Tahoe has decided to close the Alpine side of the resort Friday.
On the Palisades side, the resort is tentatively opening the Resort Chair, First Venture, Far East, and Red Dog.
“Skiers and riders should expect that these lifts will be delayed, maybe even significantly delayed, depending on how much snow we get overnight. There is also a chance that Palisades will be fully closed once we assess conditions in the morning.”
PLAN YOUR TRAVEL ACCORDINGLY (courtesy Palisades Tahoe)
Be prepared before traveling to Lake Tahoe from Thursday through Sunday (March 3). Note that by Thursday night, it is likely that highways will be closed.
- Should I drive to Tahoe? Do not drive up to the Lake Tahoe area without checking the weather and road conditions.
- Use the CalTrans Quick Map app to check the status of roads like Interstate 80 or Highway 89
- Get gas and groceries before you enter the mountains. There is potential for the area to run out of fuel and have low grocery stock in large storm cycles when trucks cannot get up to resupply.
- Use caution when traveling on side roads. While most main arteries in North Lake Tahoe are well cleared, this will be a huge storm to recover from, and there will be a lot of work to do to dig out the side streets.
- Check our list of winter driving tips to help you make safe travel decisions. If you absolutely must travel, you should stock your car with water, blankets, and food, and you should carry chains.
