Mother Nature is giving our ski resorts feet of snow for Christmas. Tuesday and the weekend will be good travel days, but plan on roads being sloppy and wet on Monday. Heavy snow moves into the Sierra late Tuesday and goes through Friday. Chain controls and delays are likely, so pack your patience if you plan on traveling over the mountains for Christmas.
Chain controls are on Mt. Rose Highway, I-80 over Donner Summit, Kingsbury Grade, SR 267 and Highway 50.
A Flood Watch remains in effect for the Tahoe Basin through 4pm Monday. Mainly watching creeks, streams, and poor drainage areas. The Susan River could also experience minor flooding. Rain totals will range from a quarter of an inch to around an inch in the Truckee Meadows. Carson City is getting dumped on Monday morning, leading to higher rain totals there. A narrow band of heavier rain developed just south of Tahoe Monday morning, leading to high rainfall rates in Carson and Washoe Valley. Rain showers taper off Monday evening after sunset. The Reno area, north of Carson City also has a chance at seeing on and off again rain showers on Monday.
Gusty winds and heavy snow will combine to bring dangerous to nearly impossible mountain travel conditions Tuesday night through Friday. Best travel window –> now through Tuesday afternoon! Mountain travel is highly discouraged! #cawxpic.twitter.com/54LQlc4xcA
— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) December 22, 2025
Wind speeds will be lighter on Monday, but not calm. The wind will lower visibility where it is raining and snowing. This includes Washoe Valley, Donner, Highway 50, and especially Mt. Rose Highway. Snow totals will range from 1-2 feet at lake level and 2-4 feet above 7000’, from Tuesday night through Friday. The snow will have a good amount of water content as well.
The snow level will be around 7000-8000’ on Monday, 7400’ on Tuesday, 6000’ on Wednesday, 5500’ Thursday, and 5000’ on Friday. The foothills have a 50% chance of having a white Christmas, and the lower elevations have a 30% chance of seeing snow Thursday morning…