Page updated September 24, 2026 at 05:13 PDT. Forecast and model issue times are shown with each product.
01 · Weather ahead · Coop’s weather read · Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe weather · today & the week ahead
Thursday, September 24, 2026 · Morning forecast · NWS checked 0403 PDT
¡Buenos días my friends
Cup’☕️’Joe in hand, #StokeLevel @11.8
September sunshine with a stronger southwest breeze, my friends. South Lake Tahoe reaches 71°F, Olympic Valley 75°F and KirkwoodMtn 66°F today. Friday turns windier, especially on exposed Sierra ridges, before a cooler weekend settles in.
Rain, snain & snow: No rain, snain or snow appears in the seven-day point forecasts. KirkwoodMtn has a brief patch of morning haze from 0800 to 0900. Southwest winds strengthen Friday as a dry cold front passes. NWS Reno says exposed Sierra ridge gusts could exceed 75 mph Friday. Those are ridge winds, separate from the lower-elevation forecasts.
Today and tonight · September 24
Today’s high / tonight’s low, °F. Winds are in mph.
South Lake Tahoe
96150 · 6,293 ft
Today: Sunny, with a high near 71. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
NWS forecast for South Lake TahoeKirkwoodMtn
95646 · 8,268 ft
Today: Haze between 8am and 9am. Sunny. High near 66, with temperatures falling to around 62 in the afternoon. South southwest wind around 8 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low around 48, with temperatures rising to around 50 overnight. South southwest wind 3 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
NWS forecast for KirkwoodMtnOlympic Valley
96146 · 6,283 ft
Today: Sunny, with a high near 75. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
NWS forecast for Olympic ValleyNWS forecast grids: South Lake Tahoe and Olympic Valley updated September 23 at 2330 PDT; KirkwoodMtn September 24 at 0200 PDT. KirkwoodMtn’s point is above the village.
September 24 to 30 · The week ahead
No rain, snain or snow appears in the seven-day point forecasts. KirkwoodMtn has a brief patch of morning haze from 0800 to 0900. Southwest winds strengthen Friday as a dry cold front passes. NWS Reno says exposed Sierra ridge gusts could exceed 75 mph Friday. Those are ridge winds, separate from the lower-elevation forecasts.
| Day | South Lake Tahoe | KirkwoodMtn | Olympic Valley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu Sep 24 | 71° / 51°SunnySW 5 to 10 mph | 66° / 48°Haze then SunnySSW 8 mph | 75° / 46°SunnySW 5 to 10 mph |
| Fri Sep 25 | 66° / 48°Mostly SunnySW 10 to 15 mph | 60° / 46°SunnySW 8 to 13 mph | 67° / 42°SunnySW 10 to 15 mph |
| Sat Sep 26 | 66° / 47°Mostly SunnySW 5 to 10 mph | 59° / 45°SunnySSW 7 to 10 mph | 68° / 42°SunnySW 5 to 10 mph |
| Sun Sep 27 | 61° / 41°Mostly SunnySW 5 to 10 mph | 54° / 38°Mostly SunnySSW 6 to 14 mph | 61° / 35°Mostly SunnySW 5 to 10 mph |
| Mon Sep 28 | 61° / 43°SunnyNE 0 to 5 mph | 56° / 40°SunnyNE 2 to 7 mph | 64° / 38°SunnyNE 0 to 5 mph |
| Tue Sep 29 | 65° / 45°SunnyNE 0 to 5 mph | 62° / 43°SunnyNNE 2 to 12 mph | 70° / 40°SunnySE 0 to 10 mph |
| Wed Sep 30 | 69°Overnight low not yet issuedSunnySW 0 to 5 mph | 65°Overnight low not yet issuedSunnyS 2 to 6 mph | 74°Overnight low not yet issuedSunnyS 0 to 5 mph |
Wednesday’s overnight low is not yet included in this NWS forecast. No value is estimated.
Coop’s read
Lake, trails and mountain
SUP, kayaks and wakesurfing
South Lake Tahoe reaches 71°F today and 51°F tonight. Southwest wind runs 5 to 10 mph today, gusting to 20 mph, then up to 25 mph tonight. Friday brings southwest wind 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph. The Sandy Way forecast below carries hourly lake winds in knots. Today’s water temperature and surface conditions are not verified.
Sailors
Chair 6 ridge reported south wind averaging 16.0 mph, gusting to 19.8 mph, at 0400 station time. The separate FT Tech peak instrument averaged 13.4 mph, gusting to 18.3 mph, at 0345. These are mountain observations. Today’s South Lake Tahoe point forecast has southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, gusting to 20 mph. The Sandy Way forecast below carries hourly winds in knots.
Hikers, mountain bikers and trail runners
Olympic Valley reaches 75°F today and 46°F tonight, with gusts to 25 mph today and 30 mph tonight. KirkwoodMtn reaches 66°F, easing toward 62°F this afternoon, with gusts to 25 mph. Its Friday forecast reaches 60°F with gusts to 38 mph. Exposed Sierra ridges will be much windier. Sunday highs fall to 61°F at South Lake Tahoe and Olympic Valley, and 54°F at KirkwoodMtn.
Skiers, snowboarders and BC riders
No Tahoe snowstorm to chase in the seven-day call. Sixty-three days to our Thanksgiving season kickoff. Eyes on the Pacific.
Wind direction & local weather
Wind & weather at Sandy Way
South Lake Tahoe / Sandy Way: wind, gusts and the next two days.
Two-day Windfinder forecast
Swipe across to see all hours. Source: Windfinder. Wind: knots · Temperature: °F · Rain: inches · Pressure: hPa · Waves, when available: feet.
Open Windfinder · S Lake Tahoe / Sandy Way ↗
Wind direction: SW means wind from the southwest, blowing toward the northeast.
Units: Windfinder uses knots. One knot is about 1.15 mph; the NAM gust charts below use mph. Source: Windfinder.
Caltrans · Tahoe roads & conditions
Checked Sep 24, 2026 · 0403 PDT · refreshed with the daily editions
SR88
Silver Lake → Carson Spur / Carson Pass → Woodfords
No Caltrans notice identified within this corridor.
This highway information is the latest reported as of Thursday, September 24th, 2026 at 04:03 AM.Hwy50
Pollock Pines → Kyburz / Echo Summit → South Lake Tahoe
1-way controlled traffic at various locations from Alder Creek Rd to 31 Milestone Tract /in Whitehall/ (El Dorado Co) from 1900 hrs each night to 0600 hrs each morning Tuesday thru Friday thru 9/25/26 - Due to construction
This highway information is the latest reported as of Thursday, September 24th, 2026 at 04:03 AM.I80
Emigrant Gap / Nyack → Donner Summit → Truckee / Nevada line
No Caltrans notice identified within this corridor.
This highway information is the latest reported as of Thursday, September 24th, 2026 at 04:03 AM.Closures and chain controls: use the Caltrans links above for the latest reports.
Near-term forecast models · California
NAM 3km · Precipitation, wind, temperatures & reflectivity
September 24 06Z run (September 23 at 2300 PDT), ending September 26 at 1100 PDT. All four maps use the California view. NAM covers about 60 hours; the NWS table above covers seven days.
NAM 3km | California six-hour precipitation
LIQUID PRECIPITATION • inches
RUN: 06Z SEP 24, 2026
Coop’s read: The reviewed California maps keep Tahoe dry. Rain reaches the far north near the Oregon border later in the run. Each frame covers six hours of liquid precipitation; the NWS points above carry the local forecast.
Forecast hours 6 to 60 in 6-hour steps; ending September 26 at 1100 PDT. California view.
Source: WeatherBell / NOAA NCEP · 10 frames
Open 3 still maps · PNG
NAM 3km | California wind gusts
NEAR-SURFACE WIND GUSTS • mph
RUN: 06Z SEP 24, 2026
Coop’s read: The middle maps show stronger winds near the Sierra Friday. Chair 6 ridge reported a 19.8 mph gust at 0400 station time today. NWS Reno expects exposed Sierra ridge gusts could exceed 75 mph Friday, beyond the smoother terrain represented by this map.
Forecast hours 3 to 60 in 3-hour steps; ending September 26 at 1100 PDT. California view.
Source: WeatherBell / NOAA NCEP · 20 frames
Open 3 still maps · PNG
NAM 3km | California temperature
2-METER AIR TEMPERATURE • °F
RUN: 06Z SEP 24, 2026
Coop’s read: Cool Sierra mornings give way to mild afternoons, then cooler air arrives for the weekend. Each map shows one forecast hour, not a daily high. Use the NWS table above for highs and overnight lows.
Forecast hours 0 to 60 in 3-hour steps; ending September 26 at 1100 PDT. California view.
Source: WeatherBell / NOAA NCEP · 21 frames
Open 3 still maps · PNG
NAM 3km | California Reflectivity Type
SIMULATED RADAR • dBZ / precipitation-type categories
RUN: 06Z SEP 24, 2026
Coop’s read: Organized precipitation stays mostly north of Tahoe in the reviewed frames. These are forecast echoes and precipitation types, not observed radar.
Forecast hours 0 to 60 in 3-hour steps; ending September 26 at 1100 PDT. California view.
Source: WeatherBell / NOAA NCEP · 21 frames
Open 3 still maps · PNG
NWS sources checked September 24 at 0403 PDT. South Lake Tahoe and Olympic Valley grids updated September 23 at 2330 PDT; KirkwoodMtn September 24 at 0200 PDT. Reno discussion: September 24 at 0018 PDT; Sacramento: September 23 at 1230 PDT. Point forecasts above carry the local details.
Reno forecast discussion ↗ · Sacramento forecast discussion ↗
Forecast: NWS · Maps: WeatherBell / NOAA.
Satellite observations
GOES-West · California skies
GOES-West | California infrared
GOES-WEST [CONUS] 0.02° • ABI CH 13 • brightness temperature °C
OBSERVED: SEP 23 2223 TO SEP 24 0423 PDT
Coop’s read: Much of California is relatively clear in this overnight infrared view, with clouds offshore and scattered patches over land. Infrared cloud images do not establish local air quality or lake conditions.
Observed September 23 at 2223 PDT through September 24 at 0423 PDT, in ten-minute steps. California view · GOES-West [CONUS] 0.02° · ABI Channel 13 · brightness temperature, °C.
Source: WeatherBell / NOAA GOES · 37 frames
Open 3 still maps · PNG
The wider weather pattern
GFS · Precipitation & simulated radar
September 24 06Z run (September 23 at 2300 PDT), through September 30 at 2300 PDT. Continental U.S. view. Source: Pivotal Weather · GFS / NOAA.
GFS · Precipitation type and rate
Precipitation rate: in/hr · 1000 to 500 mb thickness: dam
GFS · September 24, 2026 06Z
Coop’s read: The sequence follows precipitation type and rate across the continental U.S. Tahoe’s seven-day point forecasts remain dry. Distant systems on this broad map do not establish a Tahoe storm or snowfall total.
Forecast hours 6 to 168 in three-hour steps; ending September 30 at 2300 PDT. Continental U.S. view.
Source: Pivotal Weather · GFS / NOAA · 55 frames
Open 3 still maps · PNG
GFS · Composite reflectivity
SIMULATED RADAR · dBZ
GFS · September 24, 2026 06Z
Coop’s read: Forecast radar echoes track systems across the continental U.S. Use the local NWS forecast above for Tahoe timing. Simulated radar is a forecast, not an observation.
Forecast hours 6 to 168 in three-hour steps; ending September 30 at 2300 PDT. Continental U.S. view.
Source: Pivotal Weather · GFS / NOAA · 55 frames
Open 3 still maps · PNG
Today’s take-along briefings · PNGs & GIF
02 · Winter 2026/27
Snow, resorts & first turns.
First chair dates. Fresh snow. The season tally. Frothy for #PowHunt’n Season.
Thanksgiving 2026 · Coop’s season kickoff
Coop’s kickoff date; resort opening dates may differ.
2026/27 · First chair watch
Bull Wheels begin to spin.
Who spins first? Announced dates run earliest to latest. Dates can move with the snow and weather. Resorts without a confirmed date stay on the watch list below.
MammothMtn
Planned opening
Bull Wheels turn onNov 13, 202650 daysResort update ↗Checked Sep 24 · 0403 PDTPalisades Tahoe
Planned opening
Bull Wheels turn onNov 25, 202662 daysResort update ↗Checked Sep 24 · 0403 PDTSugar Bowl
Planned opening
Bull Wheels turn onNov 27, 202664 daysResort update ↗Checked Sep 24 · 0403 PDTKirkwoodMtn
Planned opening
Bull Wheels turn onDec 4, 202671 daysResort update ↗Checked Sep 24 · 0403 PDTMt. Rose
Awaiting resort confirmation
Bull Wheels turn onDate not confirmedDate pendingResort update ↗Checked Sep 24 · 0403 PDT
Official resort pages checked at 0400 Pacific daily. A target date does not confirm which lifts or terrain will open.
First snow & the season tally
Sources checked Sep 24, 2026 · 0403 PDT · weather editions 0400 Pacific daily
Reporting day: 0600–0600 Pacific, ending Sep 23, 2026 · 0600 PDT. All snowfall totals below are in inches.
| Mountain / measuring site | 24 hours 0600–0600 | 48 hours | Seven days | Season to date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KirkwoodMtnResort report (base readings) | — | — | — | — |
| Palisades TahoeThe Village | — | — | — | — |
| Sugar BowlSummit · 8,383 ft | — | — | — | — |
| MammothMtnMain Lodge | — | — | — | — |
— = no verified total. Daily snowfall periods end at 0600 Pacific. Resort totals on other reporting schedules are listed below.
Report times & resort-reported totals
KirkwoodMtn: Report is not current. Resort snow-report time: Updated April 23, 2026 at 5:09 AM PDT.
Palisades Tahoe: Summer report; winter totals unavailable. Resort snow-report time: 2026-09-08T09:50:24-0700.
Sugar Bowl: Report is not current. Resort snow-report time: 04/05/2026 03:57 PM.
MammothMtn: Report is not current. Resort snow-report time: 2026-06-07T11:01:49-0700.
KirkwoodMtn weather · peak to snowplots
Stations checked Sep 24, 2026 · 0403 PDT · refreshed at 0400 Pacific daily
Chair 6 peak · FT Tech wind
Observed Sep 24, 2026 · 0345 station clock
- Wind speed
- 13.4 mph
- Peak gust
- 18.3 mph
- Direction
- S · 181°
Chair 6 ridge · weather station
Observed Sep 24, 2026 · 0400 station clock
- Wind speed
- 16 mph
- Peak gust
- 19.8 mph
- Direction
- S · 200°
- Average direction
- S · 190°
- Air temperature
- 50.8°F
- Humidity
- 47%
- Wet-bulb temperature
- 40.7°F
- Dew point
- 31.1°F
Hayflat Snowplot · 7,850 ft
Observed Sep 24, 2026 · 0400 station clock
—24-hour new snow
New-snow reading unavailable.
- Air temperature
- 53.3°F
- Humidity
- 34%
- Wet-bulb temperature
- 40.1°F
- Dew point
- 25.7°F
- Reported pressure
- 30.21 inHg
Whiskey Snowplot · 8,475 ft
Observed Sep 24, 2026 · 0355 station clock
—24-hour new snow
New-snow reading unavailable.
- Air temperature
- 54.5°F
- Humidity
- 38%
- Wet-bulb temperature
- 43.5°F
- Dew point
- 29.5°F
- Rain · 5-minute record
- 0 in
Snowplot totals follow the station’s reporting window; the 0600–0600 snow day is not yet confirmed. — = no usable reading.
Source: KirkwoodMtn weather stations
03 · Eyes out front
The Pacific. The storms. What’s next.
Long-range weather, El Niño, ARs and the winter storm track.
El Niño · The Pacific keeps building.
CPC’s September 10 update puts the chance of a very strong El Niño above 90% for fall and winter 2026/27. For Tahoe, I’m watching the storm track and the cold air that turns rain into POW. That Pacific signal does not set our snowfall total.
CPC issued September 10, 2026 · checked September 24. Next discussion: October 8. Read CPC’s ENSO update ↗
Coop’s long-range read
The Pacific and winter ahead
September 29 to October 3 · After the cooler weekend
CPC’s September 23 Northern California summary favors warmer than normal temperatures and precipitation near normal. National confidence is 4 out of 5. This describes the period average, not a promise for every day.
October 1 to 7 · Watching the Pacific
CPC’s Northern California summary favors warmer than normal temperatures and precipitation near the median. National confidence is 3 out of 5. Individual storm dates remain open.
October 3 to 16 · The next stretch
CPC’s September 18 weeks 3 to 4 outlook leans warmer around Tahoe. Precipitation has equal chances of above, near or below normal. The next update is September 25.
October · The monthly view
CPC’s September 17 outlook favors West Coast warmth. Wetter odds cover Southern California and the Southwest; Tahoe’s precipitation call remains open. The next October update is September 30.
Winter 2026 to 27 · El Niño
CPC’s September 10 discussion gives greater than 90% odds of a very strong El Niño this fall and winter. Its September 17 seasonal outlook leans wetter across California through winter. Storm temperatures will decide rain, snain or POW. Next ENSO discussion: October 8. Next seasonal outlook: October 15.
CFSv2 · Another winter view
NOAA’s current CFSv2 precipitation maps use September 13 to 22 initial conditions. October leans drier along the northern West Coast in this model, while wetter departures favor the Southwest. These are monthly liquid precipitation departures in millimeters per day, not Tahoe snowfall totals.
Atmospheric rivers and large storms
NWS Reno expects the strongest southwest winds Friday with a dry cold front. Exposed Sierra ridge gusts could exceed 75 mph. Tahoe’s seven-day point forecasts stay dry, with cooler weather over the weekend and wind easing Sunday. CW3E’s September 24 00Z GFS and ECMWF moisture transport maps, reviewed through 180 hours, place the stronger landfall mainly toward the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. The models differ later in the run. No Tahoe atmospheric river rating, storm arrival date or snowfall total is assigned.
CPC extended outlook: September 23; weeks 3 to 4: September 18; monthly and seasonal: September 17; ENSO: September 10. NOAA’s reference period is 1991 to 2020. Confidence scores describe CPC’s national outlook.
Satellite observations
GOES-East · The broader weather picture
GOES-East | North America infrared
GOES-EAST [FULLDISK] 0.04° • ABI CH 13 • brightness temperature °C
OBSERVED: SEP 23 0419 TO SEP 24 0419 PDT
Coop’s read: Cloud systems cross the North Pacific and northern continent, with a broad band near the Atlantic coast. This is observed satellite history, not a forward forecast or an El Niño diagnosis.
Observed September 23 at 0419 PDT through September 24 at 0419 PDT, in hourly steps. North America view · GOES-East [Full disk] 0.04° · ABI Channel 13 · brightness temperature, °C.
Source: WeatherBell / NOAA GOES · 25 frames
Open 3 still maps · PNG
WeatherBell model room
ECMWF model forecasts
AIFS: September 24 00Z. The 15-day precipitation anomaly compares September 23 at 12Z and 18Z with September 24 at 00Z. Seasonal: September 1 cycle. Open any map for its full-size animation and legend.
ECMWF AIFS ENS | 15-day precipitation anomaly
RUN-TO-RUN COMPARISON • inches
RUNS: SEP 23 12Z / SEP 23 18Z / SEP 24 00Z, 2026
Coop’s read: Tahoe stays near neutral to slightly dry across these three runs. Stronger wet departures favor British Columbia, parts of the Southwest and the Atlantic coast. Each run moves the 15-day window forward by six hours.
15-day windows ending October 8 at 12Z and 18Z, and October 9 at 00Z. ERA5 reference: 1991 to 2020.
Source: WeatherBell / ECMWF · 3 frames
Open 3 still maps · PNG
ECMWF AIFS ENS | Pressure, precipitation & T850
MSLP • hPa / SIX-HOUR PRECIP • in / T850 • °C
RUN: 00Z SEP 24, 2026
Coop’s read: The stronger Pacific moisture band favors British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. Tahoe’s signal stays weaker. T850 is temperature on the 850 hPa pressure surface, which can lie below Sierra terrain. It does not give a local snow level.
Six-hour steps through October 8 at 1700 PDT. The final frame is 15 days after initialization. MSLP is mean sea-level pressure; precipitation is liquid equivalent.
Source: WeatherBell / ECMWF · 60 frames
Open 3 still maps · PNG
ECMWF Seasonal | Monthly precipitation anomaly
SUCCESSIVE VALID MONTHS • inches
RUN: 00Z SEP 01, 2026
Coop’s read: California’s precipitation departures vary by month. This is monthly liquid precipitation departure, not snowfall. The seasonal cycle remains September 1; CPC’s separate winter outlook is discussed above.
Valid months: September 2026 to March 2027. September 1 cycle; checked September 24. Provider climatology period is not specified on this map.
Source: WeatherBell / ECMWF · 7 frames
Open 3 still maps · PNG
ECMWF AIFS ENS | Five-day height anomaly
500mb HEIGHT ANOMALY • meters / height contours • dam
RUN: 00Z SEP 24, 2026
Coop’s read: Lower heights favor the West early, while higher heights sit over the interior continent. The lower-height area shifts farther offshore later. Each frame averages five days, so it cannot pinpoint a Tahoe storm arrival.
Rolling five-day means ending September 28 at 1700 PDT through October 8 at 1700 PDT. Anomaly means departure from the ERA5 1991 to 2020 average.
Source: WeatherBell / ECMWF · 41 frames
Open 3 still maps · PNG
The winter read · take it along
Past next week, toward #PowHunt’n Season.
Play the extended & seasonal briefing
Know what the maps measure.
QPF anomaly
QPF is forecast precipitation measured as liquid water, including melted snow. An anomaly is the amount above or below a reference average. A monthly or seasonal inch anomaly is not a snowfall total.
MSLP anomaly
This is sea-level-adjusted air pressure compared with its reference average, in hPa. One hPa equals one millibar. It helps describe broad pressure patterns, not snow depth.
Ensembles & map spacing
An ensemble combines many possible forecasts. Agreement can build confidence, while disagreement widens the range. A 0.5° map helps show regional patterns, not individual Tahoe slopes.
Snow levels & storm confidence
Precipitation and cold air must arrive together. Local NWS guidance, elevation and the storm’s temperature profile matter more for the rain/snain/snow split than a single broad anomaly map.
Source notes: NWS points, hourly forecasts, zones and discussions checked September 24 at 0403 PDT. Reno AFD issued September 24 at 0018 PDT; Sacramento September 23 at 1230 PDT. CPC outlooks checked September 24; model issue times appear with each map. CW3E GFS and ECMWF moisture transport maps use September 24 00Z and were reviewed through 180 hours in 12-hour steps. The current WPC extended discussion has not been verified in this edition. No Tahoe atmospheric river rating is assigned. CFSv2 precipitation maps use September 13 to 22 initial conditions. CFSv2 MSLP remains unverified for this edition.
CPC extended outlook · CPC weeks 3–4 · CPC seasonal outlook · CW3E atmospheric river guidance
Coop’s read · Maps: WeatherBell / ECMWF.
