storms

PHILLIPS STATION, CALIF. - In 2017, the water content on March 1 at Phillips Station was measured at 185 percent of normal. One year later it is a different story, but much better than just a week ago.

The water content of the snow measured at Phillips Station on March 5, 2018 is 39 percent of the historical average with the 41.1" snow at the measuring spot 14 miles west of Lake Tahoe containing a snow water equivalent (SWE) of 9.4".

The SWE is the amount of water that would come out of the snow if melted all at once.

Liberty Utilities is reminding customers to be prepared for possible extended power outages due to incoming winter storms.

The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning and avalanche watch starting Thursday morning for the Sierra and Lake Tahoe areas citing that this weather pattern could be the biggest snowstorm of the season.

”Although we prepare for extreme weather impacts to our electric system, we remind customers that power outages may occur and we encourage them to be prepared,” said Travis Johnson, Liberty Utilities’ VP of Electric Operations.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - The first of two storms due to hit Lake Tahoe this week has arrived. This current storm will head out Monday night with the next one due Wednesday through Friday.

Chain controls are up on most mountain roads as of 8:20 a.m. on Feb. 26:

R1 controls: Chains are required - snow tread tires allowed
R2 controls: Chains are required on all vehicles except four wheel drive vehicles with snow tires on all four wheels

HWY50 - R2 FREDS TO MEYERS^ SPLIT CONTROLS
HWY50 - R2 PLACERVILLE TO FRESH POND
SR88 R2 FRM SILVER LAKE TO CRYSTAL SPRINGS

The snow has been falling all down in the Sierra, giving residents and visitors a glimpse into a winter that hasn't been even a slight resemblance into the big winter of 2017.

At this point, every seems to be happy with what fell Thursday. Snow totals aren't in from the ski resorts yet since they release them in the morning, but they most likely will be several inches and hovering near the one foot level.

Pipe Keepers is a citizen science program to address the threat of stormwater pollution entering Lake Tahoe. Runoff from storms and snowmelt is the largest source of pollution that degrades Lake clarity. League staff will train you to survey local neighborhoods and collect stormwater samples during rain and snowmelt events.

Location

Months of exceptionally warm weather and an early winter snow drought across big swaths of the West have left the snowpack at record-low levels in parts of the Central and Southern Rockies, raising concerns about water shortages and economic damage.

Drought spread across large parts of the Western United States this month, and storms that moved across the region in early January made up only a small part of the deficit. Runoff from melting snow is now projected to be less than 50 percent of average in key river basins in the central and southern Rockies.

Forecasts of snow for Lake Tahoe haven't lived up to their promises recently, but a new system headed to the region could have more promise. Dry conditions and above average temperatures are expected today and through the weekend as high pressure builds into northeast California and western Nevada. More active weather is expected next week, especially by late week, as the stronger of two systems moves through the region.

The above average temperatures are not forecast to be record breaking as highs in the past for this week have been as high as 56-60 degrees.

Temperatures are well above normal in Lake Tahoe and there is no snow in sight, for now. The highs will be in the 50s and will be close to record breaking.

There is a persistent ridge of high pressure along the West Coast, preventing major storms from breaking through and bringing snow to Lake Tahoe. Expect things to not change through New Year's Day, but there is some hope for precipitation at the end of next week.

A front will drop down near Susanville this weekend, but nothing is expected further south, but temperatures will drop a couple of degrees.

Abundant mid and high clouds and periods of gusty winds in the high Sierra are expected through the weekend, leaving Lake Tahoe with party sunny conditions for Christmas. Abundant mid and high clouds and periods of gusty winds in the high Sierra are expected through the weekend.

A very weak system is passing through Northeastern California and Northern Nevada next week, and with it comes a very slight chance of snow coming into the Lake Tahoe Basin, but more precipiation will be staying near the Oregon border.

The Brockway substation in Kings Beach was switched back into service Tuesday evening at 8:00 p.m. The 50+ year old substation had been temporarily shut down for necessary repairs due to damage sustained during this year’s winter storms.

A new transformer was installed to replace equipment that had caught on fire during extreme weather experienced in the Lake Tahoe region in January and February "Snowmegeddon."

The League to Save Lake Tahoe supports Measure C, the ballot measure to fix potholes and repair road surfaces in the City of South Lake Tahoe. Fixing our roads protects Lake Tahoe, and is a critical complement to the advocacy by the League and many others to reduce pollution associated with Tahoe’s traffic. Taking action now is essential if we are to restore the Lake to its historic clarity.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Lake Tahoe area from 2:00 p.m. Wednesday to 8:00 p.m. Thursday.

Thunderstorms with potentially dangerous lightening strikes are forecast along with heavy rain and possible flash flooding.

A negatively tilted trough is setting the stage for a widespread outbreak of thunderstorms this afternoon through Thursday from the northern Sierra and far western Nevada to the Oregon border.

Caltrans is alerting motorists traveling through the Truckee area that the on ramp from southbound Highway 89 to eastbound Interstate 80, as well as the off ramp from Interstate 80 to Central Truckee, will be closed from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 15 and Wednesday, August 16 for maintenance work.

The ramps sustained damage during the past winter’s storms. Preventing further erosion of the ramp’s pavement and shoulders will help mitigate damage anticipated from future winter storms.

9:00 p.m. update: The Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) has initiated evacuations for areas east of Pine Nut Road to include Fred's Street, Sandoval, Taildragger, Bluebird, and Bar-J Roads as well as in the Sierra Spirit Ranch area including, Blue Sage Road, Badger Lane, Robinson Road and Lena Lane. In addition, Washoe Tribal Police are evacuating the Bodie Flats area in the vicinity of Courtland Avenue.

The lightning-sparked Preacher Fire burning in the Pine Nut Mountains southeast of Gardnerville has swelled to 3,130 acres according to DCSO with winds moving north.

Approximately 240 customers in the Commonwealth Drive area of Kings Beach are experiencing an outage. Crews are onsite repairing a bad underground cable with estimated restoration around 3:00 p.m.

About 15 customers in the remote back area of Fallen Leaf Lake (Lilly Lake and Glen Alpine areas) will be without power for about two weeks as power poles and lines destroyed by winter storms are replaced via helicopter.

"Thank you to our customers for their patience and understanding as we make repairs in both these areas," said Kathy Carter of Liberty Utilities.

Did you use social media to keep informed during the floods of January and February this winter? If so, the Douglas County Communications and Public Information department wants to hear from you.

They are researching social media messages disseminated by local governments in Douglas, Lyon, Storey and Alpine Counties and are seeking public feedback through a quick survey of residents.

A late season atmospheric river will bring another significant precipitation event to the Sierra and western Nevada. Near saturated soils and a mostly ripe low to mid elevation snowpack will contribute to increased runoff. This will increase flood potential, especially along creeks and streams, Friday into Saturday. This event isn`t expected to be as strong as storms in January and February but is a significant precipitation event for April.

The winds have arrived in South Lake Tahoe, and three weather related warnings have come with them: wind, snow and flooding.

Pipe Keepers is a citizen science program to address the threat of stormwater pollution entering Lake Tahoe. Runoff from rain storms and snowmelt is the largest source of pollution that degrades Lake clarity. League staff will train you to survey local neighborhoods and collect stormwater samples during rain and snowmelt events.

Location

The winter of 2017 has been full of surprises with record amounts of rain and snow, but one surprise came in the mail by wait of an electric bill.

Many Liberty Utilities customers have noticed their January and February bills were higher than expected. Due to extreme weather, the utility company had to bill based on estimated billing as actual meter reads were impossible. For some customers, actual reads may not have occurred until March if a customer’s scheduled meter read was during the February winter storms.

12:00 p.m. update: US 50 is currently free of controls.

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The first of several Spring storms is passing over Lake Tahoe today, and with it snow is starting to fall and chain controls are going up on Sierra roads.

Currently chains or 4WD with snow tires are required over US50 from Meyers to Twin Bridges. SR88 requires chains or 4WD with snow tires from three miles east of Ham's Station to five miles west of Pickett's Junction. SR89 requires chains or 4WD with snow tires from Pickett's Junction to Christmas Valley.

Hope you got out to enjoy the last full day of sunshine Friday as over a week's worth of storms enters the Lake Tahoe Basin starting Saturday.

The weekend will have unsettled weather as a system headed to California is starting to split, with heavier rain to the north and south, and a chance of rain for South Lake Tahoe. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has issued a Lake Wind Advisory for Lake Tahoe, which is in effect from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday. Winds: Southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 35 mph. Wave Heights: 1 to 3 feet, highest from midlake to northeast shores.

Traffic is moving smoothly in South Lake Tahoe and Meyers today without the backup that has been seen on previous Sundays.

Gone are the chain controls, closed I-80 and storms, and their place are sunny skies, no road controls or closed highways and no backup in Meyers on Highway 50.

This week, City, County, Caltrans, fire departments and law enforcement got together to discuss the backup that has delayed travelers up to eight hours, and prevented locals to navigate easily through the community.

The Sierra Nevada snowpack continues to build during one of the wettest winters in California’s recorded history and this was evident as the monthly snow survey was conducted by the Department of Water Resources at Phillips Station near Sierra-at-Tahoe.

The snow water equivalent (SWE) measured was 179 percent of average, or 43.4 inches.

The 113 inches of snow at Phillips Station contains the fifth-highest March 1 reading of the SWE. In 1969, the record reading was 57.4 inches of snow-water content in 160.9 inches of water.

The Sierra Avalanche Center is reporting a large (D4) slide that appeared to run during the rain on Monday, February 21 in Desolation Wilderness on the slopes of Mt. Tallac above Lake Tahoe.

The 1,000 foot long avalanche named Corkscrew Slide Path, started at an elevation of 6800 feet and was approximately 150 feet wide. Trees up to approximately 6 inches in diameter were visible within the debris at the end of the slide.