Winter Storm Warnings Issued as 24 Inches of Snow, 90 mph Winds Approach

Men's Journal ^ | Nov 12, 2026 | Jenny Lynton

[george76]

Heavy snow and strong winds could reduce visibility across the Sierra to near zero through Saturday morning. Conditions are expected to ease Saturday afternoon and Sunday before the next round arrives Sunday night.

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The storm heading for the mountains this weekend is now strong enough for winter storm warnings. The National Weather Service has upgraded the winter storm watches to warnings, and they take effect Friday morning.

Exposed ridges could see gusts as strong as 90 mph, while the highest terrain could pick up 24 inches of heavy, wet snow. Down in the towns, the official forecast looks far tamer, as the NWS snowfall map below shows.

Where Will the Wind Be Strongest?

Around Lake Tahoe. The NWS Reno winter storm warnings put ridge gusts at 70 to 90 mph, with 35 to 45 mph expected in Truckee, South Lake Tahoe, Incline Village and the other lakeside towns.

Out on the water, waves could build to 2 to 4 feet. The office spells out what all that wind could do on land:

“Strong winds and Sierra cement snow could cause damage to trees and power lines.”

In Mono County, ridge gusts could reach 60 to 80 mph, with 45 to 55 mph along Highway 395 through Mammoth Lakes, Lee Vining and Bridgeport.

How Much Snow Is Coming?

The deepest totals are split between two areas. NWS Sacramento expects up to 12 inches across the Northern Sierra above 6,000 feet and up to 24 inches on the highest peaks, a zone that takes in Interstate 80, Highway 50 and Lassen Volcanic National Park. Mono County could pick up 12 to 24 inches above 7,000 feet.

Along the crest west of Lake Tahoe, totals could reach 20 inches, while lower-elevation communities around the lake are forecast to get much less. The Eastern Sierra Slopes near Aspendell and Whitney Portal could get 5 to 10 inches, according to NWS Las Vegas.

Farther south, the earlier winter storm watch for Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia is now a warning too. NWS Hanford expects up to 18 inches above 6,000 feet there, with gusts as high as 50 mph.

How Much Snow Will the Towns Actually Get?

Far less than the peaks.

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The official snowfall map from NWS Reno shows how much elevation matters here. The heaviest band, 12 to 18 inches, runs along the crest between Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Lakes, while South Lake Tahoe is marked at just 1 inch and Mammoth Lakes at 2 inches through Saturday morning.

When Is the Worst of It?

Friday night into Saturday morning. The warnings start at 10 a.m. Friday PST around Tahoe and in the Northern Sierra and at 1 p.m. in Mono County and on the Eastern Sierra Slopes. Most end by 10 a.m. Saturday, but the warning for the southern Sierra parks holds until 4 a.m. Tuesday.

That timing lands squarely on the Friday evening drive, and NWS Sacramento adds near-whiteout conditions to the list of possible impacts.

It doesn’t end there, though. The Sacramento office lays out what comes next:

“Lull in activity Saturday afternoon through Sunday, followed by additional snow Sunday night through Monday.”

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TOPICS: Outdoors; Weather
KEYWORDS: heavy; heavysnow; laketahoe; mammoth; mammothlakes; snow; southlaketahoe; tahoe

[Robert DeLong]

So, this storm is limited to Lake Tahoe?

[george76]

No, Mammoth Lakes and south.. There is a map

[happyathome]

Tahoe is to the Bay Area what the Hamptons are to New York. That’s where all the rich people go for holidays and/or long weekends. So the media is going to focus on what matters to rich people, not the general population.

[butlerweave]

24 inches of heavy, wet snow , Oh My Back

[BenLurkin]

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Lassen to the north and Mammoth to the south. That’s a big spread!

[Fungi]

East Anglia, where all the lies originated.

[rktman]

Half inch possible at lake level. So guessing the bigger totals will a little higher. Mix forecast for “down here” in Reno of rain snow. 😴

[Robert DeLong]

Oky. Perhaps I didn't read it far nough. Some posts that do not personally afffect my area, I have less need to see what it encomasses. All I saw was Lafe Tahoe. I figured it had to be bigger than just that locality, but had no need to red frther, and asking the question, hpefully delivers an answer. Because I have selective reading time, and with macuylar degeration. , that plays a role in how indepth I might dig.

Thanks for your response. (Thumbs up).

[PGalt]

LOL! True.

[Robert DeLong]

Thanks (smiley Face) Hotmail down, LOL.