More Detailed Snow Conditions & Webcams for Heavenly at snow-forecast.com

Lake Tahoe is having a banner snow year and the conditions for all Lake Tahoe resorts could hardly be better. It is obvious why Orbitz declared once again that the Lake Tahoe region is the top destination for their travelers booking air and lodging packages.  Lodging numbers are up and skier visits have risen quite dramatically as well. The timing of the stormy patters has also helped with periods of stromy weather and then long breaks of Tahoe’s famous sunshine.

Looking ahead there appears to be even more snow on the way with another El Nino driven jet stream making it’s way across the Pacific. These storms may not be as intense as the storms earlier this month but they do appear to be pretty juicy! Stay tuned.

If you are looking for lodging on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe Pinnacle Lake Tahoe Getaways offers over 68 vacation rental homes, cabins and condos ranging from super-luxury to basic economy-2-7 bedrooms with sleeping arrangements ranging from 4 -18 guests. All units are fully equipped for your stay with all linens provided, a start pack of paper products, soaps and shampoos, nicely equipped kitchens and many featuring other amenities such as Hot Tubs, steam showers, Internet and pool tables. Many of Pinnacle Lake Tahoe Getaway’s unit are pet friendly as well so bring Fido along.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Lake Tahoe Area Traveler’s Stats Revealed by Online Lodging and Vacation Rentals Directory Rentalo.com (prweb.com)
• News about Lake Tahoe Finally Available Every Day (prweb.com)
• Storm brings blizzard conditions to Sierra (sfgate.com)
• Skiing/Snowboarding Trip at Lake Tahoe (dosooye.com)

Related articles by Zemanta

• Storm brings blizzard conditions to Sierra (sfgate.com)
• Snowfall in the Sierras (laobserved.com)
• MAKE Volume 21: Snow Science and Snow Making (mt-soft.com.ar)

The models are really coming together this morning with a series of storms moving toward the Lake Tahoe Basin, each a bit stronger and colder than the previous. The snow totals if everything works out in our favor could top 3-6 feet by the end of next weekend which would set up the ski and board resorts for an epic late-winter and spring! If you have not booked a trip with Pinnacle Lake Tahoe Getaways yet you might want to as what usually happens in these situations is a rush to book cabins after a big dump!

I digress. The first storm moving in now is much warmer than the subsequent storms will be therefore, rain will more than likely fall below 7000-7500 feet. The big story with this first storm will be the winds. A high wind advisory has been posted for Lake Tahoe and the Reno area through Monday with potentially damaging winds developing ahead of the precipitation. Once the initial front passes snow levels will come crashing down to below 5,000 feet on Monday and Monday night. The rest of the week the precipitation from the upcoming storms should be all snow with very dry and powdery snow falling in the Tahoe Basin and surrounding Lake Tahoe resorts.

The weather service will in all likelihood issue a winter storm watch on Monday for the next storm due in  Tuesday into Wednesday as the potential for a major winter storm now looks likely. 1-3 feet of snow could fall from this one and looking down the line a potent system for next weekend is taking shape which could produce another 1-3 feet of new snow.

All of this is great news for Lake Tahoe resorts, businesses and our guests but the biggest impact may be a significant increase in our snow pack and the subsequent spring and summer water supplies for California and Nevada. Stay tuned for more Lake Tahoe weather updates and ski and board conditions!

National Weather Service Discussion March 1, 2009

Looking ahead it appears that the active weather patter will continue into the foreseeable future with each storm being wetter and a bit warmer than the smaller storms we have been experiencing.

Lets keep our fingers crossed that the stormy weather keeps on coming as the snowpack still needs help for a decent summer runoff and for an extended ski season which would dearly help the local Lake Tahoe economy.

National Weather Service Forecast 02/11/09

New Lake Tahoe Snow Totals 02/11/09

Kirkwood: 6-10 Inches

Heavenly: 4-6 Inches

Sierra at Tahoe: 8-10 Inches

Squaw Valley: 8-10 Inches

Mount Rose: 4-6 Inches

Northstar: 2-8 Inches

Alpine: 6-10Inches

Sugar Bowl: 8-12 Inches

NWS Scientific Weather Discussion

Lake Tahoe Snow Totals:

Kirkwood: 18-24 Inches

Heavenly: 8-11 Inches

Sierra at Tahoe: 12-18 Inches

Squaw Valley: 11-16 Inches

Mount Rose: 4-6 Inches

Northstar: 2-8 Inches

Alpine: 13-20 Inches

Sugar Bowl: 12-16 Inches

National Weather Service Scientific Discussion 1/31/09

Model GFS Weather Map 2/6/09

Lake Tahoe Weather Map

Absolutely stunning Tahoe Tyrol home! Gorgeous and immaculate, this Heavenly Ski Retreat is perfect winter or summer being only a minute or so from Heavenly Mountain Resort and 3-4 minutes to all of South Lake Tahoe’s famous casino’s, nightlife and beaches. Church’s Chateau is the perfect Lake Tahoe getaway and is setup with every detail in mind to make you next Tahoe vacation a memorable one!

• 2 Large Bedrooms
• Huge Loft w/Sleeper
• Beautiful Kitchen
• Dynamite Greatroom/Fireplace
• Big Decks
• Common Pool/Spa
• Sleeps 6-8
• Virtual Tour
• Search All South Lake Tahoe Rentals

12►

Here is the NWS forecast statement for 1/22/09:

Area forecast discussion 

National Weather Service Reno Nevada 

350 am PST Thursday Jan 22 2009 

Short term... 

a relatively narrow but heavy band of rain is moving slowly across 

northern and central California this morning as an upper trough makes its 

way onshore. This band of heavy precipitation is being fed by a juicy 

subtropical connection off the Baja California coast. Snow levels are currently 

around 8500 feet or so...which is pretty normal for this type of 

subtropical tap. Only the highest mountains in our area will 

see any snowfall with this storm...and even then it should be pretty 

wet and heavy. Snow levels are expected to remain high...generally 

above 8000 feet through Friday...before finally coming down by 

Friday night as we get into some colder air. No winter statements 

expected at this time...due to the high snow levels. 

The elongated trough coming into California this morning has split into two 

main vorticity maxima...with the shortwave currently northwest of the Bay 

area being the one of our concern. This wave will lift through 

northern California and into the far northwest corner of Nevada by this evening. 

As this wave pushes inland...the stream of heavy precipitation we are 

seeing on the cal radars will push east across the higher elevations 

through the day and scattered showers across western Nevada. 

There is some good diffluence aloft lifting the deep moisture... and 

models are indicating a band of 700mb frontogenesis from Truckee to 

Lovelock later this afternoon and evening. This low level forcing 

will create a nice band of showers across the Interstate 80 

corridor...with periods of moderate to heavy rain possible. Both GFS 

and European model (ecmwf) indicating this band of heavier precipitation setting up across the 

forecast area...so bumped up probability of precipitation and quantitative precipitation forecast for this afternoon and 

evening in the western Nevada valleys. 

Late tonight and into early Sat morning we will see a Little Break 

in the action as we get some weak shortwave ridging...but with the 

abundant moisture still streaming off the Pacific and into our 

area...scattered showers are not out of the question. 

By Friday...another upper level low will drop in right behind...with 

the nose of a 100kt jet pushing across central California and into the 

Sierra. On top of that...a very nice looking diffluent left exit 

region will setup right over the Tahoe area. Latest models are 

coming up with some impressive quantitative precipitation forecast values for the time period 

between Friday night and early Sat morning as we get a shortwave 

lifting through norcal...interacting with the dynamic jet. This is 

plausible to happen with this deep subtropical moisture tap setup. 

So...upped up quantitative precipitation forecast and probability of precipitation for Friday night and Sat as we get this jet 

maximum moving into our area. If models continue to show this period of 

enhanced precipitation...the forecast may need to go up even more. By 

Friday night...snow levels will begin to lower from 8000 feet down 

to near lake level by early Saturday morning...which could cause 

some travel concerns for the Sierra passes Friday night and 

Saturday. Hoon 

Long term...Sunday through Wednesday... 

models continue to drop energy down along the West Coast for Sunday 

and Monday developing a deep positively tilted trough/closed low from 

the northern rockies back across California. The GFS...Canadian... 

and ec continue to differ in details with respect to location of the 

upper low and timing. 

Generally for Sunday and Sunday night the upper low should extend 

across northern California with the GFS further west...rotating the low 

system off the coast... and the ec inland. At any rate snow will 

increase across the Sierra Sunday and continue through Monday. By 

Tuesday models cut this deep low off from the northerly branch of 

the jet sagging the primary feature west of Southern California. This would 

decrease precipitation across the Sierra Tuesday to scattered 

showers. By Wednesday although again the details differ...northern 

California and western Nevada should be under northerly flow aloft as the system 

moves east. 

Overall expect snow in the Sierra Sunday diminishing to scattered 

showers by Tuesday with Wednesday and later in the week generally 

dry. Snow levels will start out around 5000 feet so Sierra 

precipitation should be all snow. Over the period from Sunday 

through Monday night there could be 6 to 10 inches or so of snow at 

lake level with a foot or 2 at higher elevations of the Sierra. Will 

have to keep an eye on storm organization to determine whether any 

watches or warnings will be needed. At this time it looks like the 

best chance for heavier snow would be Sunday associated with the 

cold front...with generally light snow for the the remainder of the 

early week period. 

For western Nevada valleys...snow levels will start at around 4000 

feet up toward the Oregon border to 5200 feet or so in the 

Reno-Carson areas to 5500 feet further east. The best chance for 

valley snow will be associated with the cold front passage. The ec 

drops the cold front through western Nevada late Sunday and Sunday 

night. The GFS brings it through a little earlier...Sunday afternoon 

and early Sunday night. Except for Surprise Valley would not expect 

more than a dusting to an inch or less for the valleys. 

The coldest day of the week should be Monday but temperatures will 

just be 5-10 degrees below normal in most areas before moderating 

back close to normal later in the week. Jah