Carson City area weather: Sierra snow into Saturday, followed by colder storm Monday

The weather will transition to a more active pattern with periods of mountain snow, valley rain, and gusty winds later Friday through Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service. A second colder system will be on its heels for early Monday and will provide chances for another round of snow.

Additional fast moving storms are possible going into 2021.

The first in a series of storms will approach today and then move across the northern Sierra and northern Nevada tonight and early Saturday. The best chance for accumulating snow continues to be the northern Sierra from Tioga Pass northward to the Tahoe Basin and northeast California west of Highway 395, according to the weather service. The winter weather advisories are generally on track for up to a foot of snow along the immediate crest to several inches down in the Tahoe Basin and along Highway 395 north of Susanville.

An inch or two may occur in the Surprise Valley as well as along Highway 395 through the eastern Sierra. Very little if any snow is anticipated across much of west central Nevada as precipitation will be winding down just as snow levels fall to near the valley floors Saturday morning, according to the weather service.

Strong gusty southwest winds will develop over the ridges Friday with some of this momentum working down to valley floors of the Tahoe Basin as well as the Highway 395 corridor eastward to about Highway 95.

Most gusts for valley floors will be 30-35 mph, but wind prone areas could see a brief period of gusts to 50 mph. Strongest winds should surface tonight as the cold front moves through the area.

Increasing clouds and inversions will keep temperatures cooler Sunday ahead of the next storm that will be approaching the West Coast.

For Monday onward the last week of 2020 looks likely for snow potential for the Monday morning commute following a holiday weekend. A cold area of low pressure diving south along the California coast will spread snow into the Sierra from approximately Tahoe south to Mammoth Lakes starting Sunday night into Monday morning, according to the weather service.

The probability of snow for the valleys has been growing, near and south of US- 50, however, there is a 40 percent chance that light snow could reach as far north as a Susanville-Winnemucca line.

Accumulation potential looks decent for the Sierra crest, perhaps another 12 inches, with western Nevada totals generally less than 2 inches, though at this point there is a 15 percent chance, snow could range from 2 to 4 inches.

A colder airmass on Monday will likely keep highs from reaching 40 degrees even in the warmest valleys. Winds don't look particularly strong with this system, however, there will be some northerly breezes with favored locations seeing gusts of 15-20 mph, according to the weather service.

The next system of note arrives Wednesday into Thursday as another Pacific moisture tap takes aim at the Pacific Northwest. This is a warm overrunning situation, and with cold air trapped at the surface, initial precipitation type should be snow at all elevations, according to the weather service. Forecast soundings show the potential for a rain/snow mix as inversions gradually mix out.

The pattern remains active through the start of 2021, but there aren't any signs of blockbuster storms with the main moisture tap staying north of the region. This is very similar to what we have been experiencing so far this season. Still, anticipate several periods of travel difficulties, especially in the Sierra and northeast California.

Check the latest forecast at weather.gov/Reno and check road conditions with Caltrans and NDOT.
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