Thanks to a storm front that hit the Sierra Nevada a little more wetly and coldly than expected, Lake Tahoe got its first measurable winter storm of the season Wednesday, leaving the mountainous landscape looking like winter has arrived. 

The Central Sierra Snow Lab on Donner Summit reported 11 inches of snow over the past 24 hours, noting that it had nearly doubled the season’s snowfall to date, with the potential for another 2 to 4 inches of snow on Thursday. Nearby ski resorts following suit and reported similar numbers. Sugar Bowl Resort, with a summit elevation of just over 8,300 feet, reported 14 inches of fresh snow in the last 24 hours, with nearby Boreal Mountain measuring 11 inches at the summit. The snowfall on-mountain at Palisades Tahoe was described on social media as “nuking,” reporting 15 inches at the top of Alpine Meadows and 11 inches at the top of Palisades. 

Areas to the south and east of the lake reported slightly less snowfall, but still picked up 9 inches at Kirkwood and 6 inches at Heavenly. Mount Rose Ski Tahoe, which boasts the highest base elevation of any Tahoe-area resort at around 8,260 feet above sea level, reported between 10 and 13 inches overnight. 

The storm entered the Lake Tahoe region Thursday afternoon, bringing with it wind gusts of up to 100 mph. A statement offered by the National Weather Service office for Reno warned the storm could bring concerns like “dangerous crosswinds” and “aviation turbulence” for anyone trying to move throughout western Nevada and the Sierra. 

Around the lake’s elevation of 6,200 feet, most towns saw between 1 and 4 inches of snow, according to forecasting experts at OpenSnow. But relatively low snowfall totals didn’t stop locals and visitors from celebrating the return of winter to Tahoe, posting videos of snow falling on the lake, cute dogs playing in the snow, and the various ski villages around the lake looking wintery in a fresh white coat. 

As has become the norm around the Sierra, as any travelers who tried to visit during 2022-2023’s record-breaking snow year will know, Highway 80 and other area roads were also affected by the light storm. Chain control went into effect on Highway 80 roughly 6 miles east of Donner Summit. Multiple spinouts were reported in Truckee and east toward Boca, and chain control restrictions went into effect around 3 p.m. as the snow began on Dec. 6. 

As of 9:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, chain control is still in place at many areas around the lake, including around Emerald Bay, on state Route 89 between Truckee and Meeks Bay, and around Echo Lakes near Myers and out toward Hope Valley. Chains are still required on Highway 80 between Boca and Cisco Grove, and could potentially continue through Friday morning, as another 3 inches could fall throughout the day Thursday.