While we may not see snow all the way down to the valley floor this weekend, the mountains are likely to get a pretty good shot…enough so that the Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Sierra through mid-day Saturday. These late season storms are a bit tricky to call in terms of specifics, but the mountain passes could easily see a half a foot to as much as a foot of snow by the time the system moves through Saturday night. Snow levels will begin Friday night at about 7,000’, but should lower to slightly below lake by Saturday morning. Anybody travelling over the mountain passes late Friday night into Saturday should be prepared to face chain requirements and possible spinouts. Snow accumulations at the lake itself will likely be less than six inches, but could still result in some slick driving.

In the valley, rain is likely Saturday morning, and should taper off to showers by late in the day. Conditions warm rapidly over the next few days, with 60s on Sunday, 70s on Monday and 80s by Tuesday.