Fall colors in abundance at Tahoe and Sierra, Sunday to bring rain with snow showers
Fall colors are near their peak at Lake Tahoe and in Hope Valley but with wind, rain and snow in the forecast, this may be the last few days to witness their spectacular golds, yellows and reds.
Not quite time to get on the slopes, but it certainly appears Mother Nature will attempt to get snow in the Lake Tahoe Basin by Sunday afternoon into evening with snow levels forecast at lake level into Monday morning. Light snow is expected and there may be impacts to travelers over Highways 50 and 80.
Prior to the cold front, winds will hit Lake Tahoe and Carson City on Friday, high enough to cause concern for fire officials as the low humidity and gusty winds have prompted a Red Flag Warning from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday.
Expect winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. The Red Flag Warning is created by those speeds mixed with low humidity, 15-20 percent in Western Nevada, 20-25 in the Sierra.
Thursday will remain warm around Carson City, Carson Valley and Dayton areas, with highs near 80. With the low front and wind arriving Friday, daytime temperatures come down into the mid 70s. Saturday will see daytime highs in the mid 60s, with a night time low in the low-30s.
Sunday will be cooler with a slight chance of rain, and daytime highs in the upper 50s with a night time low near freezing and a chance for showers and snow showers around Lake Tahoe.
Conditions will stay cool through Monday.