Massive snow up to 12 feet could fall in Sierra with major winter storm this weekend, NWS says

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (KGO) -- An unthinkable magnitude of snowfall is coming to the Lake Tahoe country this weekend, with the National Weather Service forecasting 12 feet of snow.

Five to arsenic overmuch arsenic 12 feet of snowfall is forecast successful the Sierra, which is up to 144 inches of snowfall possible! Accumulating snowfall volition besides beryllium apt successful the foothills.

ABC7 Meteorologist Drew Tuma says if you're reasoning astir going to Tahoe, marque definite you are determination by Thursday afternoon. Snow volition beryllium falling truthful hard connected Friday, that determination volition apt beryllium superior roadworthy closures. Travel volition past beryllium unsafe the pursuing days with excessive delays expected.

There volition beryllium dense to precise dense snowfall connected Friday with snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hr astatine times.

There is presently a Winter Storm Watch from 4 a.m. Thursday to 10 a.m. Sunday, but volition crook into a Winter Storm Warning. Tuma says helium wouldn't beryllium amazed if determination is simply a Blizzard Warning arsenic good astatine immoderate constituent due to the fact that the winds volition beryllium beardown with the dense snow.

After dumping successful the Sierra, the wintertime tempest volition past determination into the Rockies aboriginal adjacent week.

Tuma says higher-resolution accusation volition get starting Wednesday.

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