RENO, Nev. (AP) — The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a winter storm warning for the greater Lake Tahoe area beginning Thursday afternoon as the biggest storm so far this season makes its way toward the Sierra Nevada.
The service also has upgraded a high wind watch to a high wind warning for much of the Sierra's eastern front, including Reno, Sparks, Carson City, Gardnerville and Virginia City.
The storm is expected to bring as much as 2 feet of snow to the upper elevations around Lake Tahoe with winds over the ridgetops potentially gusting in excess of 100 mph Thursday night and early Friday.
The storm warning is in effect from 4 p.m. Thursday to 4 p.m. Friday. The wind warning is in effect Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Sierra Avalanche Center in Truckee, California also issued a backcountry avalanche watch Wednesday for the Tahoe area because of the forecast of heavy snow combined with strong winds.