4-8 inches in Reno is significant but a once every winter or two type event. RNO is pretty reliable in bad weather and is on the far side of town to the mountains, the problems usually come down in SF so keep an eye on your inbound flight. On Saturday SFO should be clearing out and the worst of the storm will have passed RNO. This storm is mainly severe in the mountains, not so much down in SF.

The biggest challenge may be getting from Tahoe to RNO Saturday. Up to a metre of snow is expected from Friday morning through Saturday at the lake so getting out of Tahoe could be a challenge depending on where you are staying and your vehicle. Keep in mind the highway near you may be open but your local streets blocked and impassable. Truckee to RNO down hill on 80 only rarely closes but with the low snow levels on Saturday and an accident it’s possible. Tahoe to Truckee can more easily close as can the pass between South Lake and Reno.

if I was you the main thing I would be doing is trying to get down hill to Reno during the day on Friday or earlier before the peak of the blizzard predicted for Friday night. Stay down in RNO and enjoy a little of Nevada before you head back to Aus. Keep in mind Friday will be a storm day too so if you want to be completely safe head downhill by Thursday evening.

You won’t have many alternative options from RNO unless RNO-LAX is operating but RNO-SFO is not. If flights aren’t operating the highways are very likely closed so driving out won’t be possible unless you go to Salt Lake. Don’t try SMF (Sacramento). Even if the road is open it could be a many hour effort to get through the pass.

On a number of occasions I’ve put my spouse on an RNO-SF flight so she could make her shift while waiting it out in Reno for the highway pass to open.

have fun and be safe!