Carson City area weather: Strongest winter storm of season ahead for Sierra and valleys
With Carson City receiving a healthy dusting of snow overnight and around an inch or more in surrounding areas, weather forecasters now have their eyes on what may turn out to be the biggest winter storm of the season so far for the Sierra and lower valleys.
A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for the coming storm, with accumulations of 2 to 6 inches possible in the valleys and the potential for "feet" of snow in the Sierra, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.
Wednesday may be the last dry day before the next storm blasts into the region. Cloud cover will increase through the day and breezy conditions will develop by the afternoon ahead of the next storm. For the most part, Wednesday will be a good time to prepare for the next storm, the weather service advises.
Thursday's weather system, which could last into early Saturday, by all indications will be a major winter storm that will bring gusty winds, heavy snow to the Sierra, and even accumulating snow to the valleys of northeast California and western Nevada. The weather services advises motorists to prepare for hazardous winter weather conditions, highway closures and long travel delays.
Strong gusty winds will develop along the Highway 395 and I-580 corridor on Thursday ahead of and along the cold front with wind gusts between 50-60 mph possible. Sierra winds will be typical of a strong winter storm with gusts approaching 100 mph on the Sierra ridges, according to the weather service.
Once the cold front pushes through Thursday afternoon, winds should dampen for lower valleys and foothills but winds will continue in the Sierra and likely produce localized blowing snow and limited visibility throughout the storm.
As the cold front pushes down on Thursday, precipitation is likely to spill over into the western Nevada valleys. Although snow levels will temporarily bump up to near 4,500 feet, snow levels will plummet to all valley floors Thursday night behind the front.
The initial wave on Thursday appears to be the heaviest period of snow for the Sierra, although this storm will continue through Friday and Saturday as additional shortwaves rotate through the trough. Plan on multiple rounds of moderate to heavy snow in the Sierra and northeast CA, and even for northern Nevada.
Late Thursday night into Friday will be the critical day for western Nevada with snow levels down at all valley floors, according to the weather service.
Snow amounts for Thursday through Saturday may be around 3 to 5 feet in the high Sierra above 7,000 feet, with a couple feet of snow around the 6,000 foot elevation, including Lake Tahoe.
Several inches of snow are expected for the valleys of western Nevada, including Carson City, Carson Valley and Dayton areas with localized higher amounts up to a foot for elevations above 5,000 feet in the foothills.
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