Carson City weekend weather: Flood Watch issued as 'Atmospheric River' to bring rain, high elevation snow to region
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Sat, 12/10/2016 - 8:29am
UPDATE 705AM: The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch now through tonight for Carson City, Carson Valley, Lake Tahoe and Reno. Up to an inch of rain is expected in these areas. A Flood Advisory has also been issued for the following areas for western Carson City, Douglas County and southern Washoe County. Go here for the latest from the weather service.
***
A wet “atmospheric river” storm system will impact the Sierra and Carson City area this weekend bringing periods of heavy rain and high elevation snow to the region, according to the National Weather Service.
Gusty conditions will arrive ahead of the moisture, with gusts from 30 to 45 mph possible and 70 mph gusts in wind prone areas. A Wind Advisory is in effect for Carson City and much of the region from 1 p.m. Friday afternoon to 1 a.m. Saturday morning.
The ensuing rain will be heavy enough to make driving conditions difficult over Sierra passes through early Saturday. Then rain transitions to snow with snow levels dropping to around 7,000 feet by Saturday evening. Snow is not expected to make it to Carson City or the valley areas.
The Weather Service has called the storm system an "atmospheric river." These are relatively long, narrow regions in the atmosphere — like rivers in the sky — that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics. These columns of vapor move with the weather, carrying an amount of water vapor roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River. When the atmospheric rivers make landfall, they often release this water vapor in the form of rain or snow.
Sierra locations can expect around 1 to 4 inches of liquid equivalent. Most of the snow will remain above 8,000 feet providing for hefty snow totals for ridge tops.
However, up to 4 inches will be possible down to 7,000 feet by Sunday morning affecting higher passes. Temperatures should be warm enough for Western Nevada to remain all rain through this time frame. Rain totals will generally be up to an inch across Western Nevada.
Finally, expect some breezy winds. Wind gusts will generally be gusting up to 30 mph for Sierra locations with up to 45 mph along the Sierra Front. Expect lulls in the winds during heavier precipitation periods.
- Carson City
- 000
- Afternoon
- carson
- City
- county
- Douglas
- Douglas County
- Driving
- flood
- FRIDAY
- friday night
- Lake
- Latest
- Morning
- National Weather Service
- Nevada
- News
- rain
- saturday
- service
- Sierra
- Snow
- Sunday Morning
- tahoe
- Washoe
- water
- weather
- weather service
- Weekend
- western
- wind
- Carson Valley
- Lake Tahoe
- reno
