Carson City area weather becomes a repeat: Valley rain, heavy Sierra snow ahead
Another storm system will move its way into the region Tuesday, bringing rain and gusty winds to Carson City and lower valley regions and heavy, wet snow to the Sierra through Thursday and possibly beyond, according to the National Weather Service.
Periods of strong south to southwest wind gusts of 30-40 mph are likely for the western Nevada valleys Wednesday with potentially higher gusts for wind prone areas, such as exposed parts along Hwy 395 in Lassen County and Washoe Valley as well as US 95 near Walker Lake. The Sierra ridges can see gusts of around 60-80 mph.
Snow levels will likely fluctuate some and they could easily rise to 7,000 feet for a while and could drop down to lake level for a period on Tuesday night. At this time, snow levels are forecast anywhere between 6,000 to 6,500 feet. Heavy, wet snow will be an issue for the Lake Tahoe Basin southward into Mono County. Anywhere from 3 to 10 inches is expected above 6,000 feet, with 1 to 3 feet above 7,000 feet, according to the weather service. As of Monday morning, a winter weather advisory was in effect for the Lake Tahoe Basin from 10 p.m. Tuesday to noon Thursday.
Motorists can expect travel delays in the Sierra, especially over the passes. For travel information, see NVroads.com or call 511.
Winds will be gusty in the mountains Tuesday night through Wednesday and spread to the lower valleys on Wednesday, but nothing extreme, according to the weather service.
At this time, not much precipitation is forecast for western Nevada due to limited spillover, according to the weather service. Rain is expected Tuesday through Thursday. By Thursday morning, snow showers are possible down to valley floors as colder air moves into the region.
The main concern with precipitation is for areas of northeast California, including Lassen and Plumas counties, where recent heavy rains have made impacts already. With more significant rainfall expected for this region, runoff issues are likely in flood prone spots where drains could be blocked. The Feather and Susan rivers could also be a concern regarding minor river flooding.