Winter Weather in Greater Lake Tahoe Area, California

A CO-OP observer in Tahoma, TAAC1, and a CO-OP observer at Boca Reservoir, BOCC1, and a CO-OP observer in Tahoe City, TAHC1, reported a 2-day storm total of 2.6, 6.5, and 4.5 inches of snow, respectively. The Central Sierra Snow Lab reported a 2-day storm total of 8.8 inches with 9 inches at Palisades Tahoe Ski area.

A colder low pressure moved slowly across the region from the 25th-27th, dropping daytime temperatures to 10-15 degrees below average. Patchy light rain showers developed across much of the region on the 25th, with isolated thunderstorms over west central NV. More widespread rain and snow developed during the late night of the 25th into the 26th, and again the following night, bringing late season snow for the Sierra and a rain-snow mix down to lower elevations of western NV. Snowfall amounts ranged from 2-7' for the Tahoe basin and into northern Mono County, while in western NV up to 2' of snow fell (mainly on unpaved surfaces) around the main cities of far western NV, and up to 4' in Virginia City. An additional 1-5' of snow fell in the Tahoe basin with up to 8' in higher elevations during the late night of the 26th into the morning of the 27th (Photos 4 to 6). Rainfall was heaviest across far northeast CA and northwest NV, with several sites receiving between 0.50 and 1 inch, and up to 1.25 inch in parts of the Surprise Valley.