SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA - California’s higher elevation regions are preparing for some cold, wet conditions as a cold system prepares to arrive from the Gulf of Alaska. Regions from Truckee to South Lake Tahoe will be seeing early precipitation throughout the rest of this week. 

According to reports from ABC 10, a Weather Impact Alert has been issued for Thursday and Friday in the Sierra for inches of snow at pass level and as much as one to two feet for the peaks and summits. 

Snowfall is expected to arrive late tonight through Friday, resulting in as much as nine inches at the passes to as much as 24 inches at the peaks. As the source noted, that would put the Central Sierra Snow Lab at around 12-20 inches at 6,768 feet in elevation; for November 2, the average is 6.3 inches.

This early precipitation could be a sign of a good snow season for the state, though it's currently too soon to forecast what winter may have in store.

This water year spans from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. The average snowfall for an entire water year is 360.24". Last water year, California saw above-average snowfall at 384.28". The year before that was the fifth snowiest year on record, reaching 755.8" of snow.

For more updates on the weather and California’s water source, keep reading AndNowUKnow.