Anyone planning a trip to Lake Tahoe this week might want to think twice before hitting the road this week. A potent atmospheric river is bringing a series of powerful storms to the region from Wednesday through Sunday.
This winter storm couldn’t come at a worse time for eager skiers and snowboarders. The busiest time of the year for U.S. ski resorts historically falls between Christmas and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The National Weather Service has issued both flood and winter storm watches and has called travel potentially “difficult or impossible,” once the storm arrives.
Local resorts are already trying to prepare visitors for the coming storm. The Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort, posted on its blog that “there is a good chance our upper mountain lifts will be impacted for multiple days, and some of our outdoor events or activities may be canceled or relocated.” The post went on to highlight the hard work that their crews are doing to keep their lifts running smoothly.
A relatively weaker storm is expected to arrive on Thursday morning. The most powerful storms are expected to arrive on Friday and Saturday with several feet of snow expected by Sunday.
The mixture of heavy rain and snow runoff is expected to dramatically increase the risk of flooding rivers, streams, and other low-lying areas.
Travelers to the region should exercise caution and closely monitor road closures due to rain, snow, and possible landslides.
Featured image: Courtesy of Palisades Tahoe. Photo by Nick McMahon