TRUCKEE, Calif. — The Tahoe region is bracing for a wintry stretch in the coming days, with significant snowfall expected across the Sierra Nevada.

A winter weather advisory issued by the National Weather Service will be in effect from Saturday morning into Sunday evening in the Tahoe Basin.

“We could see significant snowfall of up to 12 to 18 inches or more over Donner Pass by Sunday morning,” forecaster Bryan Allegretto wrote on OpenSnow. “That could make travel slow and difficult through the Sierra starting Friday night and worsening Saturday night.”

Rain and high-elevation snow showers are expected Friday and Saturday. Snow levels are forecast to drop to around 6,000 to 6,500 feet Friday night, rise to about 7,000 feet on Saturday, then fall as low as 4,000 feet Saturday night as a colder, wetter storm moves through, according to Allegretto.

Scattered snow showers and cold temperatures are expected to continue into Sunday.

While the National Weather Service anticipates a brief break in storms early next week, additional systems could return around April 17, with several more possible into the final week of April, Allegretto said.