Tuesday morning look at Lake Tahoe area roads and weather

It was very windy overnight in South Lake Tahoe with the highest gust of 56 mph recorded at the Lake Tahoe Airport at 1:03 a.m. Tuesday morning. From 7:00 p.m. Monday to 8:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, winds have stayed in the 30-50 mph range. According to the forecast, winds will 25 mph during the day with gusts as high as 45 mph Tuesday, breezy over night with winds 15-20 mph and gusts to 30 mph.

Alpine Meadows (recorded at 8643 feet) experienced high winds all night with winds at 11:00 p.m. Monday recorded at 144 mph along with gusts of 199 mph.

Over the Sierra Ridge, most areas had gusts over 100 mph, with peak gusts to 135 mph this morning. Due to these winds there are widespread power outages Tuesday along the west shore of Lake Tahoe to Alpine Meadows.

A winter storm warning remains in affect until 4:00 a.m. Wednesday

Temperatures will stay low all week with the chance of rain diminishing with snow, or a chance of snow, in the forecast through Sunday.

Roads throughout the Sierra have chain controls in place. Hwy 89 around Emerald Bay remains closed (due to snow), as does Mt. Rose Highway (avalanche) and SR-88 at the Carson Spur (due to snow) and Carson Pass (due to avalanche control). There is also a mudslide and 88 is closed from Picketts Junction to 5 miles west of Picketts Junction. For up to the minute road information, visit www.nvroads.com for Nevada, and quickmap.dot.ca.gov for California.

The forecast according to the National Weather Service in Reno:

Today- Snow. High near 34. Breezy, with a southwest wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 5 to 9 inches possible.

Tonight - Snow before 10pm, then snow showers likely, mainly between 10pm and 4am. Low around 22. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Wednesday - A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 29. Southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday Night - A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 27. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 14.

Friday - Partly sunny, with a high near 32.

Friday Night - A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20.

Saturday - A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32.

Saturday Night - Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18.

Sunday - A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31.

Sunday Night - A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20.

MondaySnow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32. Breezy.