Snow piling up; spring may return mid-week

By Kathryn Reed

Most schools in the Lake Tahoe Basin are closed or having a delayed start this morning after about a foot of snow fell overnight.

Besides residents shoveling and blowing out, ski resorts will be digging out too. Sierra-at-Tahoe is reporting about an inch of snow an hour in the last 24 hours. Squaw Valley says it has 14-18 inches of white stuff.

It might be time to take the RV south. Photo/Kathryn Reed

“Spring will try to peak its head out here in the middle of the week,” Rudy Cruz of the National Weather Service said this morning. “It’s not uncommon to produce this kind of snow in April. If it continues in May, it may be a bit unusual.”

Snow will be tapering off as the day goes on. The winter storm warning is in effect until 9am.

Expect Tuesday to be partly cloudy with highs between 35-45 degrees in the basin. Wednesday will be sunny with highs between 48-58. It will then be partly cloudy Thursday and Friday. A chance of showers is possible on the weekend.

Expect the roads in and around Lake Tahoe to be slick today. Chain controls are a reality this morning.

If the back country is calling, know that the avalanche danger is “considerable” per the Sierra Avalanche Center.

Here is some school information:

• Lake Tahoe Unified School District – closed

• Douglas County schools at the lake – closed

• Lake Tahoe Community College – two-hour delay. The daycare is running normally.

• Incline Village schools — two-hour delay

• Sierra Nevada College – two-hour delay

• Tahoe Truckee Unified School District — open.