Late-season storm expected to bring heavy snowfall to the Sierra Nevada

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, California — A late-season storm is expected to hit the Sierra Nevada this weekend, bringing rain and mountain snow to Northern and Central California, meteorologists said.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the mountain range for elevations above 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) from 11 a.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday. There is a good chance that rain will fall at lower elevations.

Heavy snow is expected to accumulate from 5 to 10 inches (12.70 to 25.40 centimeters) at an elevation of 5,000 feet (about 1,500 meters). Above 9,000 feet (about 2,700 meters), 1 to 2 feet (0.3 to 0.61 meters) of snow may fall.

According to the weather service, wind gusts in the area could reach 88.5 kilometers per hour.