Tahoe’s Snow Drought Ends This Week With Up to 18 Inches in the Forecast

After a long stretch of dry skies around Lake Tahoe, winter is finally clocking back in.

Forecasters say a series of Pacific storms is lining up to deliver meaningful snowfall to the Sierra this week, with as much as 18 inches possible along the Sierra crest. It’s a welcome shift after weeks of mild weather left the region stuck in a snow drought.

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service say the change comes as the jet stream repositions itself, steering moisture directly into California instead of deflecting it toward the Pacific Northwest and Canada. When that atmospheric river of storms locks in, it can send systems marching in one after another.

Beginning Tuesday, elevations between 7,000 and 8,000 feet could see up to a foot and a half of new snow. At lake level, totals are expected to be lighter, generally 3 to 6 inches through Wednesday.

The timing could set up a prime powder window. Skies are forecast to clear Thursday and Friday, offering a break for skiers and riders eager to capitalize on fresh snow.

But the break may be brief. Another stronger storm is projected to arrive Saturday, with the potential for prolonged snowfall into early next week. Travel over Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 50 could become hazardous as conditions intensify.

The boost can’t come soon enough. California’s statewide snowpack currently sits at just 53 percent of average, according to the California Department of Water Resources, a reminder of how much this late-season snow still matters.