Winter Storm Warning Issued for Lake Tahoe and Sierra Nevada
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Greater Lake Tahoe Area early Nov. 13, 2026, forecasting up to 20 inches of snow along the crest west of the lake and wind gusts of 70 to 90 mph over the ridges. NWS Reno put the warning into effect from 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, through 10 a.m. PST Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026.
The office's warning covers the Greater Lake Tahoe Area, including Truckee and the lakeshore communities. It calls for near 12 inches of snow above 7,000 feet and up to 6 inches below that elevation, with gusts of 45 to 55 mph around Truckee and Lake Tahoe and waves of 2 to 5 feet on the lake itself. NWS Reno said travel could be very difficult and that the hazardous conditions could affect the Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, evening commute. The strong winds and heavy, wet snow could also damage trees and power lines, and the rough waves could create hazardous conditions for small watercraft on the lake.
A second warning, from NWS Hanford, covers the Sierra Nevada above 6,000 feet, further south and at higher elevation than the Lake Tahoe warning. It calls for up to 20 inches of total snow accumulation and wind gusts as high as 50 mph, in effect from 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, through 4 a.m. PST Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2026. NWS Hanford said travel could be very difficult to impossible, affecting both the Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, evening and the Monday, Nov. 16, 2026, morning commutes, with gusty winds likely to bring down tree branches and roads, bridges and overpasses turning slick and hazardous.
NWS Reno advised anyone who must travel to keep an extra flashlight, food and water in the vehicle in case of an emergency, and said the latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 511.
