Not too much to discuss that is new this morning.  We are still expecting a week of weaker systems not bringing much in the way of snowfall, followed by possibly a week of stronger storms starting next Sunday.

The skies cleared in Tahoe on Friday with some sun even though some clouds still clung to some of the mountains making for some beautiful sights.  Coming down off of Mt. Rose you could see above the cloud deck that is stuck over Reno.  If you didn't see it yesterday take a drive today as it is expected to remain over the city one more day.

For Tahoe, we should have more sunny days Saturday and Sunday with highs into the low 40's at lake level, and a little cooler up high with light winds.

Weak Storms:

We have high pressure trying to build over the West and storms weakening as they try to push through CA Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

The forecast models have anywhere from no precip up to 2-3 tenths of an inch of liquid with each system.  The GFS/Euro model average for each system is less than a tenth of an inch and the high-end average of all the models is around 1 tenth.  

On the low end, we have the WPC with hardly anything through Friday...

On the high end, we have the Canadian with several tenths by Friday...

For now, I just have up to an inch of snow at best on the mountains with each storm.  We could see some sun between storms Tuesday and Thursday.  So overall an unsettled week but not expecting more than mostly clouds and wind with each storm, and maybe a few snow showers.  We will keep an eye on each storm all week to see if any could bring more than an inch.

It will stay cool with highs in the 30's on the mountains all week.  Watch the winds Monday, Wednesday, & Friday with the storms as they could cause some lift issues up high.

After a break next Saturday, it looks like on Sunday a stronger storm could push in and hold together better.  That could be followed by another storm on Tuesday the 18th.  The ensemble runs of the models are in better agreement that the Eastern Pacific trough is sitting closer to the West Coast starting next Sunday into the week of the 17th.

That is a better pattern for stronger storm into CA instead of weakening and splitting storms.

The European and GFS ensemble mean runs now show a trough over CA through the 21st.  So the stormy period could last through the 3rd week of December.

I have been cautiously optimistic that the long-range would trend towards a wetter pattern with the active MJO moving through the Indian Ocean, the Maritime Continent, and into the Western Pacific over the next 2 weeks.  

The snow conditions are good this weekend.  The ski resorts have expanded a lot of terrain this week and have a lot of the mountain terrain open.  But in order to stay good, we need storms to continue...

Stay tuned...BA

P.S.  Earlier this week I was thinking to myself that I would love to do more this holiday season for those less fortunate.  Ironically I got a call from my buddy Jon yesterday asking if I would be interested in teaming up with him to get toys for children affected by the Camp fire that lost everything.  I, of course, said absolutely!

Join us for skiing and boarding on Friday at Sugar Bowl.  Bring a toy (valued at $15 or more) and get 50% off your lift ticket, and Sugar Bowl will also donate $5 to the relief fund.  Victims of the fire will be able to ski for free.  I'll be there with my toy and helping to collect toys and to hang out and ski with everyone.  Put it on your schedule this week!