It’s Memorial Day weekend; the traditional start of summer vacations.

But if you’re driving to Lake Tahoe, take your chains. Yes, be prepared for snow.

The National Weather Service issued a weather alert Thursday warning that an unseasonably cold low pressure system is going to hit the Sierra on Friday and will produce snow showers through Saturday morning.

It’s forecasting several inches of snow above 7,000 feet in the Tahoe area and above 6,000 feet in northeastern California. At lake level, an inch or two of snow is possible, the Weather Service says.

So if you’re taking Interstate 80 or Highway 50 to Tahoe, both Donner Summit and Echo Summit could have snow on them.

Caltrans issued an advisory that it might impose chain controls during any snow, so motorists should be prepared for that as well as driving in winter conditions.

Yes, winter in May. But the forecast for Sunday and Monday calls for sunshine in Tahoe.

——

Follow the Road Warrior on Twitter via @PDRoadWarrior.