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Winter Storm Watch For Sierra; 2 Feet Of Snow Expected

RENO, Nev. (CBS / AP) -- Winds are gusting up to 80 mph over the top of the Sierra ahead of a winter storm expected to bring more than 2 feet of snow to the highest elevations west of Reno this weekend.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch Thursday for the Lake Tahoe area effective Saturday afternoon through Monday morning.

• ALSO READ:Bay Area Soaking; Flash Flood Watch Issued Through Sunday

Forecasters say it's an erratic weather system that could bring as little as one-half foot to as much as 20 inches of snow to Tahoe's shores.

Either way, the service says 2 feet of snow likely will fall on the Sierra crest with a few inches in surrounding valleys.

KPIX 5 WeatherCenter: Latest Conditions & Forecast

A wind advisory was in effect Thursday for most of the Sierra's eastern front, with gusts of 80 mph atop the Mount Rose Ski Resort and 49 mph at Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

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