The Morning Intel | Tahoe Sector Watch

Location: #HippieHaus | South Lake Tahoe, CA
Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026
Time: 06:15 PST
¡Buenos días, my friends,
Cup’O’Joe in hand, #StokeLevelzSolid on a #StupendiousSunday morning. It’s pre-dawn and 10º with a light wind here at the #Haus. The winds have subsided from yesterday’s #Windfest—110mph gusts were clocked and time-stamped across the ridge tops of KirkwoodMtn.

Today, expect partly sunny (reverse of partly cloudy) skies with temps maxing in the mid-40ºs. Clouds will increase throughout the morning hours with winds switching back S/SW as a disturbance in the force ushers an unsettled pattern with a slight chance of a pixie-dusting mid-week.

Snow Conditions: Well, conditions are variable, with firm, fast, and wind-affected areas. Easterlies yesterday had their way with ridges and exposed terrain. Can’t speak for the Nor-Shore, however, at KirkwoodMtn, seek out the wind-load zones. On-piste is the call for today, #EarlyBirds will be rewarded with #FreshCord. Off-Piste, you’ll need to hunt around to find the zones, or wait out the temps for a break in the #Firmness. #JustTheFacts, NoOverStoking, Firm, Fast, and Fun, get out and enjoy my friends. We have two-weeks of variable conditions, then we hope to see the return to an open storm-door with copious-amounts of POW, but today, “Hooray for Red Stripe!”

Special Ops: Back up at KirkwoodMtn, posted-up in Devil’s Corral for Day 2, Stop #3 of the TJFS tour. Today’s the young-guns, U19’s—Thunder Saddle, with variable, wind-buffity conditions, multiple lines, and the best in the west competing for the top-spot on the podium. Cj & I will be holding down the mics, setting the vibes, calling the shots, turns, sends, and chat’n up FreeRideTahoe…

“Every human being has the same potential. Whatever makes you feel “I am worthless” is wrong. Absolutely wrong. You are deceiving yourself. We all have the power of thought, so what could you possibly be lacking? If you have the willpower, then you can do anything.”
― Dalai Lama XIV

Tahoe Sector Data (Verified @ 0615 PST)

Regional Temperatures (Deep Freeze Start):

  • South Lake Tahoe (KTLV): 10ºF

  • Truckee (KTRK): 10ºF

  • Palisades - Siberia (8,700’): 24ºF

  • Alpine Meadows (Mt Ward): 23ºF

  • KirkwoodMtn Chair 6 (9,100’): 25ºF

  • MammothMtn Summit (11,034’): 18ºF

Regional Winds (The Calm After the Storm):

  • HippieHaus: S 2mph

  • Camp Rich: SSW 2mph

  • Truckee: SW 1mph

  • Donner Pass: ENE 5mph

  • Alpine Meadows (Mt Ward): N 24/26mph

  • Palisades (Siberia): E 15/23mph

  • KirkwoodMtn (Chair 6): E 8/11mph (Significant Drop from Yesterday)

  • MammothMtn Summit: NNW 8/9mph

Roads (CalTrans @ 0601 PST):

  • Status: Clear & Open.

  • SR88 / HWY 50 / I-80: No traffic restrictions reported.

  • Advisory: Westbound trucks stop at brake check area 0.5 mi west of Nyack.

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

Weather Ahead: The Warm Up & The Wait

⚠️ Weather Advisories:

  • None Active.

  • Local Hazard: Wind-affected snow surfaces off-piste.

The NWS Deep Dive (REV vs. STO):
The cold front has departed, and the winds have relaxed. We enter a period of gradual warming and benign weather.

1. The Warm Up (Today - Tuesday):

  • NWS Reno (REV): The “frigid airmass” is heading East. Highs today will rebound to the upper 40s in western NV valleys and low-to-mid 40s in Sierra communities.

  • The Inversion: As winds relax and high pressure builds, valley inversions will return this week.

  • NWS Sacramento (STO): Today will see increasing clouds from a weak embedded shortwave, but dry weather continues.

2. The Mid-Week “Pixie Dusting” (Wednesday):

  • The Signal: A weak shortwave moves through mid-week.

  • Impact:

  • Wind: A “tiny uptick” in winds Tuesday (Ridge gusts to 30 mph).

  • Snow: Chances for light snow showers along the Sierra Crest (Wednesday). Probabilities are around 15-25%.

  • Accumulation: “Meager” and likely just a nuisance or a dusting.

3. The Extended (The Wait Continues):

  • REV: “Our opportunities for new snowfall look meager throughout the end of January and into the beginning of February.”

  • STO: Dry weather likely prevails from I-80 southward until moisture becomes more appreciable later in the month.

Sierra Avalanche Centers

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

Central Sierra (Tahoe/Carson Pass):

  • Status: Low / Unlikely

  • Issued: Saturday, Jan 24 (Expires: Sunday, Jan 25 @ 4:00 AM).

  • Author: Andy Anderson

  • The Bottom Line: Snow surfaces remain variable, and avalanches remain unlikely. Pay attention to the snow and terrain. Practice safe habits (one at a time).

  • Link: Sierra Avalanche Center Forecast

Eastside Region (Mammoth):

  • Status: Low / Generally Stable

  • Issued: Saturday, Jan 24 (Expires: Sunday, Jan 25 @ 7:00 AM).

  • Author: Greg Cunningham

  • The Bottom Line: Low danger at all elevations. Moderate to strong northeast winds may create small wind slabs near ridges/gullies. Look for blowing/drifting snow.

  • Link: Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center Forecast

✈️ Aviation Section

Current Status: VFR

  • Today: Widespread VFR conditions.

  • Fog: Development is limited/not expected at KTRK (<5% chance) due to dry air.

  • Winds: Light winds linger through the day.

⚓ Tahoe Mariners Forecast

Advisory: None.

  • Today: Partly cloudy. Light winds. Highs around 44. Wave Heights < 1 foot.

  • Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Light winds. Lows 25-32. Wave Heights < 1 foot.

  • Monday: Mostly cloudy AM -> Clearing. Light winds. Highs around 45. Wave Heights < 1 foot.

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

  • Water Temp: 44.0ºF (Down -0.2º from yesterday).

  • Lake Level: 6,227.54 feet (Down -0.01’ from yesterday).

The Bottom Line: The wind machine has shut down, the sun is out (mostly), and the temps are rebounding. It’s a day to carve the piste and watch the U19s throw down at Kirkwood. If you are venturing off-piste, respect the wind-hammered surfaces and look for those loaded pockets. We are in a holding pattern for big storms, so enjoy the stability and the clear roads.

Stay’nThirsty for POW,

Coop | RS#69

Weather map of North America showing high and low pressure systems, with areas of precipitation indicated in green and gray. The map includes isobars, fronts, and temperature details, valid for 06z on January 30, 2026.

ECMWF AIFS AI [M] 0.25º 6-hr Precip (in.), MSLP (hPa), 850mb Temp.(ºC)

A weather map of the United States showing hydrostatic pressure contours, with color shading indicating anomalies. Red and orange areas indicate above-average heights, especially over northern Canada and the Arctic, indicating high-pressure systems. Blue and purple areas indicate below-average heights, mainly over the central and eastern U.S., indicating low-pressure systems. The map also shows the jet stream pattern and is centered around January 25, 2026.

ECMWF AIFS AI [M] 0.25º 500mb Height (dam) and Anomaly - 5 day

Weather map showing forecasted precipitation water levels in inches across parts of California, including Los Angeles, with darker shades indicating higher levels, and lighter shades indicating lower levels.

ECMWF AIFS AI - 0.25º Precipitable Water (Inches)

Map showing 72-hour precipitation forecast along the West Coast of the United States, with highest accumulations in coastal areas, represented in shades of green and gray indicating different rainfall levels.

ECMWF AIFS AI [M] 0.25º 72hr Precipitation (Inches)

A weather map of California and surrounding states with no precipitation isobars shown, indicating clear weather.

ECMWF AIFS AI Ens 0.25º - Probability of 24hr QPF >0.5” (%)

Graph showing wind speed, wind direction, and gusts over a 24-hour period, with data points in green, blue, and red lines, alongside a detailed table of weather measurements including temperature, humidity, and voltage.

Chair Six(6) Ridge 1.25.26 - KirkwoodMtn - 9,100’

A weather map showing the southeastern United States, with cloud cover in gray, precipitation in green and blue, and isobars in red indicating pressure. The map illustrates forecast data including precipitation, mean sea level pressure, and temperature at 850mb.

NAM 3Km 6hr Precip, MSLP, 850mb Temp (Cº)

Weather map showing precipitation and reflectivity around California, Nevada, and parts of Oregon, with some rain showers notably in southern California and scattered patches in the Pacific Ocean.

NAM 3km Composite Reflectivity + Precip Type

Map of California showing 24-hour snow accumulation in inches, with mostly clear areas and some mountain regions.

NBM Para v5 2.5km 24-hr Snow (Inches)

Map of California showing snow accumulation levels in inches, with areas in the north and northeast experiencing some snow, and southern regions mostly clear.

NAM 3km | 24hr Snow (Kuchera Ratio) (Inches)

A weather map showing predicted 24-hour rainfall accumulation in inches across the southwestern United States, including parts of California, Nevada, Arizona, and surrounding areas, with areas of light to heavy precipitation.

NAM 3km | 24hr Precipitation (in)

Map showing 24-hour temperature forecast for California and surrounding areas, with temperature values in Fahrenheit. Blue and purple shades indicate cold temperatures, with readings mostly in the 30s and 40s°F, while red areas in the north and northeast show higher temperatures, reaching into the 60s°F.

NAM 3km | 2m Temperatures - MIN ºf)

Map showing wind speeds and streamlines over the western United States and Pacific Ocean on January 24, 2026, with varying wind speeds depicted in colors from blue to green and streamlines indicating wind direction.

NAM 3km | 80m Wind Speeds + Streamlines (kts)

Weather map showing wind shear in knots over parts of Mexico and the southwestern United States, with areas of high wind shear indicated in red and orange, and lower wind shear in blue and green. The map includes a color scale at the bottom and lines representing wind flow patterns.

NAM 3km | 0-6km Wind Shear (kts) + Streamlines

A weather map showing wind speed and streamlines over western North America, with color-coded areas indicating wind speeds ranging from 4 to 37.6 knots, and contour lines representing mean sea level pressure, valid for 05z on January 24, 2026.

NAM 3km | 925mb Wind (kts) + Streamlines

Map of Arizona showing snow accumulation in inches, with areas in the northeast and southeast experiencing the most snow, depicted in shades of gray, blue, and purple.

NAM 3km | 24-hr Snow (Inches) Utah

Map showing 24-hour snow accumulation forecast in inches across parts of the Western United States, with areas of higher snowfall marked in shades of blue and pink, and lower snowfall in gray. Snow accumulation varies, with the heaviest snow in selected regions.

NAM 3km | 24-hr Snow (Inches) Colorado

Map showing snow cover in parts of Washington and Oregon, with a 24-hour snowfall of 0.6 inches, valid for 6 p.m. on January 25, 2026.

NAM 3km | 24-hr Snow (Inches) WA

Map showing 24-hour snowfall in centimeters across parts of California, Nevada, and Oregon as of January 25, 2026, with the heaviest snowfall indicated by shades of blue and gray.

NAM 3km | 24hr Snow (10:1 Ratio) British Columbia

Weather radar map showing snow accumulation in inches across parts of the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies. Areas of heavier snow are marked in pink and purple, with lighter snow in shades of blue and grey. The map includes latitude and longitude lines, with labels for geography, and specifies a 24-hour snowfall forecast valid at 6 pm on January 25, 2026.

NAM 3km | 24hr Snow (10:1 Ratio) Idaho

Map showing predicted 24-hour snowfall amounts across parts of the western United States, with higher accumulations in some areas, indicated by blue, pink, and purple colors, and lighter snow in gray.

NAM 3km | 24hr Snow (10:1 Ratio) Montana

Map showing snow accumulation in inches across the Northwestern United States, including parts of California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and surrounding areas, with varying intensities represented by color, mainly blue, purple, and pink.

NAM 3km | 24hr Snow (10:1 Ratio) Wyoming

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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
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
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