More than a foot of snow possible above Lake Tahoe Tuesday-Wednesday

More than a foot (30 centimeters) of snow is possible in the upper elevations above Lake Tahoe as a late winter storm makes its way into the Sierra.

RENO, Nev.  — More than a foot (30 centimeters) of snow is possible in the upper elevations above Lake Tahoe as a late winter storm makes its way into the Sierra.

The National Weather Service has issued winter weather advisory for Lake Tahoe and mountains to the north effective from 4 p.m. Tuesday to 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Five to 10 inches (12 to 25 cm) of snow is expected on Tahoe’s west shore with 10 to 15 inches (25 to 38 cm) possible near the ridge tops with winds gusting up to 45 mph (72 kph).

“Plan on slippery road conditions and much longer travel times over Sierra passes,” the service said Tuesday. “Rain and snow showers will increase in coverage and intensity, especially for northeast California and the northern and central Sierra, later today into Wednesday morning.”

A high wind advisory remains in effect at Lake Tahoe until 5 p.m. Tuesday and at Pyramid Lake northeast of Reno until 8 p.m. Winds gusting up to 45 mph (72 kph) are expected to produce waves up to 4 feet (1.2 meters).

High temperatures through Thursday will be about 10 degrees (5 degrees Celsius) cooler than normal for this time of year, with highs just above freezing.