The Morning Intel | Tahoe Sector Watch

Location: #HippieHaus | South Lake Tahoe, CA
Date: Friday, January 23, 2026
Time: 06:15 PST

¡Buenos días, my friends,
Cup’O’Joe in hand, #FeelNGoodFriday and the #StokeLevelSolid as the sun cracks the horizon here at the #HippieHaus. We’re sitting at 24º right now, and it’s a classic #Inverted setup: temps above 8k are hanging in the 33º+ zone, winds are light, and we’ve got a gentle cooling trend rolling in over the next two-dayz.

Weekend vibe: Expect snow to stay firm and fast in the mornings, then soften up as temps rise and the sun angle does its thing - timing will be everything if you want that hero corn window. Pattern check: A weak Southern California slider brings more clouds than consequence, then a trough drops in for the weekend cooldown (Saturday is the cold punch with highs in the 30s), before we rebound into the 40s by Sunday at lower elevations and gradually warm at higher elevations into next week.

Early next week looks clean and dry with High Pressure in control - partly to mostly sunny through Tuesday/Wednesday - and in the extended (Jan 29–Feb 2), a few weak systems try to nudge the ridge but should fizzle with minimal precip/snow. Around Feb 3, the ridge looks more established and the dry trend likely holds into the second week of February, while the real cold/snow focus stays locked in the eastern U.S. Keep a small pin in mid-February, though - there’s a legit hint at a pattern shift toward wetter, with a chance for near to above-average precip in the third week of February if that door opens.

And yes~sir - I’m posted up in Devil’s Corral at KirkwoodMtn the next few days for the Tahoe Jr. Freeride Tour, Stop #3. On the mic with CJ. If you want to see the best junior freeride athletes in the nation, send it; this one’s a must-watch.

“Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.”
― Dalai Lama XIV

Current Sector Data (Verified @ 0615 PST)

Regional Temperatures:

  • South Lake Tahoe (KTLV) at 6,308’: 24ºF

  • Truckee (KTRK) at 5,899’: 23ºF

  • Palisades - Siberia (8,700’): 33ºF

  • Alpine Meadows (Mt Ward 8,643’): 33ºF

  • KirkwoodMtn Chair 6 (9,100’): 32ºF

  • MammothMtn Summit (11,034’): 25ºF

Regional Winds (Breezy Up High):

  • HippieHaus: SW 5mph

  • Camp Rich: SW 3mph

  • Truckee: WNW 1mph

  • Alpine Meadows (Mt Ward): WNW 19/22mph

  • Palisades (Siberia): WNW 16/21mph

  • KirkwoodMtn (Chair 6): WSW 9/14mph

  • MammothMtn Summit: NW 6/8mph

Roads (CalTrans @ 0601 PST):

  • Status: Clear & Open.

  • SR88 / HWY 50: No traffic restrictions.

  • I-80: Commercial Truck Advisory: Westbound trucks required to stop at brake check area 0.5 mi west of Nyack.

  • Valley Commuters: Watch for patches of fog if driving up early, but it should dissipate quicker today as North winds kick in.

  • QuickMap: https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/

Weather Ahead: The Weekend Chill & Wind

⚠️ Weather Advisories:

  • None Active.

  • Local Hazard: Hazardous Wind Chills (near or below zero) expected in Sierra backcountry on Saturday afternoon.

The NWS Deep Dive (REV vs. STO):
The story shifts from “quiet” to “cold and windy” starting tonight.

1. The Cold Punch (Saturday):

  • NWS Reno (REV): A trough digging into the central U.S. brings a colder air mass via “breezy north to northeast winds.”

  • Temps: Saturday highs will be 5-10 degrees colder than today.

  • Wind Chill: “Hazardous wind chills near or below zero degrees for Sierra backcountry areas.” If you are touring tomorrow, cover exposed skin.

  • NWS Sacramento (STO): Agrees on the cooldown, noting RH trends lower over the weekend, drying things out.

2. The Winds (Ramping Up):

  • Timing: Winds increase tonight (Friday night) and peak Saturday.

  • Direction: Shifting North to Northeast (Mono Winds).

  • Strength:

  • REV: Gusts approaching 45-50 kts across Sierra ridges late Saturday into Sunday morning.

  • STO: Valley gusts (I-5 corridor) >30 mph; Sierra gusts 30+ mph.

  • Aviation: Turbulence and LLWS (Low-Level Wind Shear) likely late Saturday/Sunday, especially on western slopes.

3. The Long Range (Dry to Maybe Wet?):

  • Next Week: High Pressure returns Sunday/Monday = Valley Inversions are back.

  • Mid-Week Tease: A weak shortwave Wed/Thu brings low chances (10-20%) for light showers (mainly NE California/NW Nevada). Likely a “nuisance” rather than accumulation.

  • Mid-Feb Hope: The door might open for a wetter pattern in the third week of Feb. Keep the faith.

Sierra Avalanche Centers

Riders: Always go to the official site for the latest updates. #KnowBeforeYouGo

Central Sierra (Tahoe/Carson Pass):

  • Status: Low / Unlikely

  • Issued: Thursday, Jan 22 (Expires: Friday, Jan 23 @ 4:00 AM).

  • Author: Steve Reynaud

  • The Bottom Line: Avalanche danger continues to be LOW. Variable snow surfaces exist. Continue to monitor conditions and change plans if you encounter instability.

  • Link: Sierra Avalanche Center Forecast

Eastside Region (Mammoth):

  • Status: Low / Generally Stable

  • Issued: Thursday, Jan 22 (Expires: Friday, Jan 23 @ 7:00 AM).

  • Author: Steve Mace

  • The Bottom Line: Generally stable. Exercise caution in exposed or extreme terrain. Monitor for changing conditions.

  • Link: Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center Forecast

✈️ Aviation Section

Current Status: VFR (Patchy AM Fog KTRK)

  • Today: North to Northeast winds, gusts to 25 kts across ridges. VFR prevails.

  • Tonight/Saturday: Wind gusts increase significantly.

  • Hazard: Turbulence and LLWS likely late Saturday into Sunday.

  • CIGS: A band of low clouds may bring MVFR ceilings to Sierra terminals tonight.

⚓ Tahoe Mariners Forecast

Advisory: None.

  • Today: Sunny. Light winds. Highs around 46. Wave Heights < 1 foot.

  • Tonight: Clear. East winds around 10 mph. Lows 20-26. Wave Heights < 1 foot.

  • Saturday: Sunny. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Highs around 35 (Chilly!). Wave Heights 1 to 2 feet.

Lake Data Tracking (Day-over-Day Delta):

  • Water Temp: 44.4ºF (No Change).

  • Lake Level: 6,227.55 feet (Up +0.01’ from yesterday).

The Bottom Line: It’s a beautiful Friday to be in the Sierra, but let’s be candid about the surface—it is #Firm&Fast. If you find soft snow today, you have found the Holy Grail of secret stashes, so keep that on the DL. The switch flips tonight as the East-Winds crank up and the temps drop, locking things up even tighter for tomorrow. If you are near KirkwoodMtn, come say “what-up” - We’ll be posted up in Devil’s Corral for the Freeride comp—the kids are going to put on a show.

Stay’nThirsty for POW

Coop | RS#69

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Chair Six(6) Ridge 1.23.26 - KirkwoodMtn - 9,100’

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Cooper Marketing & Media - Lake Tahoe Weather - Daily Lake Tahoe Snow forecasts - Accurate Lake Tahoe Weather | Lake Tahoe Snow and Resort Forecast
Cooper Marketing & Media - Lake Tahoe Weather - Daily Lake Tahoe Snow forecasts - Accurate Lake Tahoe Weather | Lake Tahoe Snow and Resort Forecast
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