Winter weather warning issued for Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe residents awoke to rain Sunday morning. And it’s just going to get worse as the day goes on.

The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a winter weather advisory above 7,000 feet from 10 am to 10pm Sunday.

Expect snow accumulations of 5 to 10 inches above 7,000 feet, with accumulations up to 18 inches possible above 8,000 feet. At the 6,000 to 7,000 foot level rain will change to snow early this evening with snow accumulations up to 4 inches.

Rusty may want to think twice about swimming in Fallen Leaf Lake as the weather changes. Photo/Kathryn Reed

Winds will be from the south to southwest at 15 to 25mph, with gusts to 40mph in the lower elevations. Sierra ridge will experience gusts up to 85mph.

The Weather Service says to not be surprised if Caltrans and NDOT put up chain controls this afternoon for the passes – Donner, Echo, Spooner, Carson, Mount Rose and Daggett.

It’s possible Monitor and Ebbetts passes could close this evening.

Road conditions may be accessed by hitting the state icons on the Home page of Lake Tahoe News.

— Kathryn Reed