Winter Storm Watch For Sierra; 2 Feet Of Snow Expected
RENO, Nev. (CBS / AP) -- Winds are gusting up to 80 mph over the top of the Sierra ahead of a winter storm expected to bring more than 2 feet of snow to the highest elevations west of Reno this weekend.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch Thursday for the Lake Tahoe area effective Saturday afternoon through Monday morning.
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Forecasters say it's an erratic weather system that could bring as little as one-half foot to as much as 20 inches of snow to Tahoe's shores.
Either way, the service says 2 feet of snow likely will fall on the Sierra crest with a few inches in surrounding valleys.
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A wind advisory was in effect Thursday for most of the Sierra's eastern front, with gusts of 80 mph atop the Mount Rose Ski Resort and 49 mph at Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
#Peakwind gusts across NE CA and NW NV this morning. Winds to continue thru the afternoon #strongwinds pic.twitter.com/DE7cRUjTul
— NWS Reno (@NWSReno) March 10, 2016
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