Forecast: Rain and snow heading back to Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After a long awaited break in a stormy weather pattern, unsettled weather returns to the Sierra this week. A storm will impact the region starting as early as Tuesday night, with the heaviest precipitation on Wednesday. Snow levels with this storm will hover above 6500 feet until Wednesday night when
they drop to near 5500 feet. While nowhere near as strong as the storms we have seen so far this winter, this one will bring up to a foot of heavy, wet snow to the higher elevations and maybe a few inches down to 6000 feet. Most of the precipitation below 6500 feet will fall as rain until Wednesday night.

Moderate rain below 6500 feet may begin melting snow with this storm. There is very little snow below 5500 feet, contributing less to potential runoff. Runoff from the rain and melting snow are likely to increase flows in area rivers and streams, but

flooding is not expected at this time. Locations with significant snow below 6500 feet may see some ponding when the rain falls if drains are not clear.

Showers will linger through Thursday, then another storm will begin to move into the area Friday night into next Saturday. This one should also produce high elevation snow and valley rain. Precipitation amounts are far less certain with this system.

The forecast from the National Weather Service in Reno:

Monday - Sunny, with a high near 55. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Monday Night - - Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday - Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night - Rain likely, mainly after 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 36. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday - Rain and snow are likely. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Wednesday Night - A chance of rain and snow. Cloudy, with a low around 24. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Thursday - A slight chance of snow before 11am, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44.

Thursday Night - A slight chance of rain and snow before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Friday - A chance of rain and snow, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44.

Friday Night - A chance of rain and snow. Cloudy, with a low around 30.

Saturday - Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40.

Saturday Night - A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21.

Sunday- A chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 40.