Winter storm warning for I-80, Tahoe; high winds expected in Reno Sunday

Another round of Sierra snow is expected to hit late Sunday and push into Monday.

Tahoe’s lake communities could see 8 to 18 inches of snow starting late Sunday and continuing through Monday, with 15 to 27 inches expected above 7,000 feet, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

Snow totals of nearly 2 to 3 feet are expected at Donner Pass through late Monday.

A winter storm warning is in effect from 5 p.m. Sunday to 11 p.m. Monday for travelers between Nevada and California and the Tahoe area.

A high wind warning is in effect for Reno-Sparks through 11 p.m. Sunday, with wind gusts up to 55 mph. Rain is expected early Monday, with a chance of rain and snow later in the day. Little to no accumulation is expected.

Here’s a look at the weather for western Nevada, Tahoe and I-80 to California.

What’s in Lake Tahoe’s 3-day weather outlook?

Lake Tahoe communities may see rain showers Sunday afternoon before a winter storm arrives late tonight. Up to 1 ½ feet of snow is possible for lake communities through Monday, with over 2 feet expected above 7,000 feet.

• Sunday: Mostly sunny with a high of 51 at the lake and 41 at higher elevations. A slight chance of showers in the afternoon and evening, with heavy snow arriving after midnight. Snow accumulations of 3 to 7 inches at the lake and 6 to 12 inches above 7,000 feet. Wind gusts up to 50 mph possible. Lows between 23 and 33 degrees.
• Monday: Heavy snow showers with a high of 42 at the lake and 32 at higher elevations. Snow accumulations of 5 to 11 inches at the lake and 9 to 15 inches above 7,000 feet. Wind gusts up to 30 mph possible. Lows ranging from 9 to 19 degrees.
• Tuesday: Sunny with a high of 46 at the lake and 36 at higher elevations. Lows ranging from 16 to 26.

What’s in Reno’s 3-day weather outlook?

Gusts up to 55 mph are expected Sunday, with some areas seeing even higher speeds. Wind-prone areas could experience gusts exceeding 70 mph, making travel hazardous, the National Weather Service said. Rain showers are expected in Reno late Sunday, with rain and a chance of snow for Monday’s commute, though little to no accumulation is expected for the valley floor.

• Sunday: High near 59, low around 36. Mostly sunny during the day, with gusts up to 55 mph in the afternoon. Rain showers expected late tonight, with a chance of rain and snow after 5 a.m. Little to no accumulation expected.
• Monday: High near 48, low around 24. Rain and snow showers likely before 8 a.m., then a chance of snow through the early afternoon. Partly sunny later in the day, with gusts up to 30 mph.
• Tuesday: High near 49, low around 24. Mostly sunny, with gusts up to 30 mph in the afternoon.

What’s the forecast at Donner Pass on I-80?

A winter storm warning goes into effect at 5 p.m. Sunday and expires at 11 p.m. Monday.

A chance of snow showers is expected Sunday afternoon, with heavier snow arriving in the late evening. Snow accumulations of 11 to 17 inches are expected overnight, with an additional 11 to 14 inches expected through Monday afternoon.

The heaviest snowfall is expected early Monday, with rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour.

“Travel could be very difficult to impossible at times,” NWS said. “The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning and evening commutes. Very strong winds could cause extensive tree damage.”

Another 1 to 2 inches could fall late Monday before skies clear on Tuesday.

California-Nevada highway travel

• National Weather Service: Along with providing seven-day forecasts, users can monitor weather warnings and alerts and download past weather data at weather.gov.
• Nevada Department of Transportation: The state’s transportation department offers not only current road conditions, but also provides access to weather station data and traffic cameras. Information is available at nvroads.com and dot.nv.gov.
• Caltrans: Check highway conditions in California at roads.dot.ca.gov before traveling.
• NV Energy weather stations: The company provides public access to several dozen weather stations throughout the state, with data updated every 10 minutes. Users can access the data at nvenergy.westernweathergroup.com.
• ALERTWildfire: The network of 50 cameras throughout Nevada can provide users with a live look at conditions. Cameras can be accessed at alertwildfire.org.