Strong winds, more rain coming Saturday into Sunday

The following are unofficial observations from storm reporters to the National Weather Service in Reno for the current series of storms through 11am Dec. 1:

LOCATION STORM TOTAL TIME/DATE RAINFALL INCHES
Alpine Meadows 6.41 9:30am Dec. 1
Donner Lake 6.0 9:30am Dec. 1
Homewood 4.98 9:30am Dec. 1
Sagehen Creek F.S. 4.39 9:30am Dec. 1
Lake Tahoe Airport 2.24 9:30am Dec. 1
Incline Creek 2.18 10:30am Dec. 1
Tahoe City 4.25 7am Dec. 1
Tahoma 4.18 7am Dec. 1
Truckee Airport 3.83 7am Dec. 1
Reno Airport 0.42 10am Dec. 1
Carson City 0.70 11am Dec. 1
Gardnerville 1.19 11am Dec. 1

While there is a lull in the storms, the Saturday afternoon break will not be long-lived.

A powerful low-pressure system is on its way tonight and into Sunday. A high wind warning for the Lake Tahoe Basin has been issued until 10am Sunday.

The National Weather Service in Reno is calling for wave heights on Lake Tahoe to be between 4 and 7 feet. The winds out of the south will be 25-40 mph, with gusts of 65 mph. While some trees have toppled, they have missed structures. Gusts along the Sierra ridge could hit 140 mph.

Rain will return Saturday night and continue into Sunday.

Moderate flooding is expected along the Truckee River from Truckee to Sparks. Some bridges in Reno will be closed starting Sunday morning in preparation for the river hitting flood levels.

An evacuation center will open at 6am Sunday at the Administration Building of the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District at 11603 Donner Pass Road.

Upper Truckee River in South Lake Tahoe on Dec. 1. Photos/Kathryn Reed

The Upper Truckee River and Trout Creek on the South Shore were flowing at a fast clip on Saturday, but not at flood levels. The Upper Truckee, though, could be seen from Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe, when looking east, flowing into the meadow.

Sand bags are available in South Lake Tahoe at the fire station near the Y and at Bijou Community Park. In Douglas County they are available at Topaz Community Center, Ruhenstroth Firehouse, across from the Gardnerville Ranchos Firehouse, Johnson Lane Firehouse, Genoa Firehouse, Jack’s Valley Firehouse and Zephyr Cove Firehouse. Sandbags are available at the Truckee Fire Protection District Station 92, 11479 Donner Pass Road. In Placer County, sand bags are available at: North Tahoe Fire Station 52, 288 North Shore Blvd., Kings Beach; Placer County Department of Public Works Corporation Yard, 2501 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City; Old Squaw Valley Fire Station, 1810 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Valley; Northstar Community Services District Corporation Yard, 50 Trimont Lane; and North Tahoe Fire Station 53, 5425 West Lake Blvd., Homewood.

— Kathryn Reed

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