Weather news
Mt. Rose Highway goes bare to white in 6 minutes; 12 inches possible by Saturday
By Ryan Hall, Y'all Weather Desk ยท Published
Written by our automated news desk from National Weather Service data.
Key points
- Where: The Greater Lake Tahoe Area, including the Mt. Rose Highway above the lake, Truckee and the Lake Tahoe communities.
- When: The warning started at 10 AM PST Friday and lasts until 10 AM PST Saturday. A burst of heavy snow is likely late Friday afternoon into the evening.
- What: Near 12 inches above 7,000 feet, up to 6 inches below 7,000 feet, and up to 20 inches along the crest west of Lake Tahoe.
- Wind: Gusts of 70 to 90 mph over ridges and 45 to 55 mph in Truckee and the Lake Tahoe communities.
- What it means: Fast-changing mountain roads during bursts of heavy snow and strong gusts.
Mt. Rose Highway goes from bare road to white in 6 minutes near Lake Tahoe
The Mt. Rose Highway (State Route 431) in Washoe County, Nevada, went from bare pavement to snow-covered in about 6 minutes on Friday, Nov. 13, between roughly 12:37 and 12:43 PM PST. A Winter Storm Warning for the Greater Lake Tahoe Area runs until 10 AM PST Saturday, Nov. 14, with near 12 inches of heavy wet snow above 7,000 feet. A burst of heavy snow is likely late this afternoon into the evening, so the road is likely to get worse before it gets better.
What the Nevada DOT camera showed
Video: Nevada DOT
A Nevada DOT traffic camera on the Mt. Rose Highway near Tahoe Meadows recorded the change. At 12:37 PM PST the road was bare. By about 12:43 PM it was white, and the first sheets of snow showed up on the pavement within 30 seconds of the change starting. A plow passed the camera at 12:52 PM.
That speed is the point. Someone who starts up the mountain on clear pavement can encounter a snow-covered road within minutes. An NDOT plow passed the camera at 12:52 PM.
How much snow, and where the wind will be worst
The warning calls for heavy wet snow through Saturday morning. Totals depend on elevation:
- Above 7,000 feet: near 12 inches.
- Below 7,000 feet: up to 6 inches.
- Along the crest west of Lake Tahoe: up to 20 inches.
The warning also calls for gusts of 70 to 90 mph over the ridges and 45 to 55 mph in Truckee and the Lake Tahoe communities.
The warning is in effect, and the camera shows the snow is already sticking. A burst of heavy snow is likely late this afternoon into the evening.
Same storm, wet weather farther west
The storm that is dropping snow at Tahoe is also bringing heavy rain to northern California. Our flash flood outlook has a Level 1 of 4 (Marginal) risk over California today. Flood advisories are up for parts of Alameda and San Mateo counties, and coastal flood advisories cover the San Francisco Bay shoreline.
What's next in the mountains
The Sierra is not done after this weekend. Our winter storm outlook shows another strong Pacific cold front arriving Monday, Nov. 16, with a 15% risk area that includes Reno, Sparks and Carson City. That system moves into the Great Basin and northern and central Rockies on Tuesday, Nov. 17. A deeper system could follow Wednesday into Thursday. Confidence is relatively high for the first round, but the track and depth of the second are still uncertain.
What to do
- Check conditions before you go. If you are headed up the Mt. Rose Highway or over the Sierra tonight, look at the interstate driving outlook and the current warnings first. Delay the trip if you can, at least until the heavy burst this evening passes.
- Carry the basics. Pack chains or traction devices, a full tank, water, blankets and a charged phone.
- Slow down early. A bare road can be covered in a few minutes, so reduce speed before the snow starts sticking, not after.
- Get alerts. You can sign up for free Y'all Alerts to get warnings for your location.
Bottom line
The Mt. Rose Highway went from bare to white in about 6 minutes Friday, and a burst of heavy snow is still likely this evening. Treat Lake Tahoe-area roads as changing minute to minute until the warning ends at 10 AM PST Saturday.
Explained: Winter Storm Watch vs. Warning vs. Winter Weather Advisory: What Each Means, Flood Advisory, Watch, Warning and Flash Flood Warning explained
More on West winter weather, November 2026
Places in this story: Reno, NV