Up to 5 feet of snow possible south of Tahoe

As much as 5 feet of snow is expected on the top of the mountains south of Lake Tahoe by the weekend as a series of winter storms make their way into the Sierra Nevada.

The National Weather Service in Reno said Wednesday updated models for the storm system show significant travel impacts are expected on-and-off through Saturday up and down the Sierra and on all mountain passes around Lake Tahoe.

Snow is expected to fall at rates up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) per hour during peak periods through Thursday, with the best chance of snow accumulations on the valley floors around Reno and Carson City coming late Friday night through Saturday morning.

Much colder weather with overnight lows in the teens is forecast by the weekend.