Cold, wet weather is headed for the Lake Tahoe Basin on Dec. 24.

Rain, including thunderstorms, is in the forecast. The temps will start off warm, keeping the snow level above 7,500 to start with.

Mix in the wind — gusts of 70 mph on ridges — and the drive over mountain passes could be gnarly.

On Dec. 25 there is a slight chance of snow showers in the basin, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

As the system moves east, the temperatures are going to drop. The low Thursday and Friday nights is expected to be in single digits. The high Wednesday is forecast to be in the 50s, then dropping to about freezing for the next two days.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report