National Weather Service

After a few days of quiet weather for Carson City and western Nevada, a more active storm pattern is taking shape beginning as early as this Saturday and continuing well into next week, according to the National Weather Service.

A weather front will usher in much colder air around Carson City and Sierra along with brisk northeast winds for the final day of 2018, according to the National Weather Service.

UPDATE 4PM: Traffic has been released on westbound I-80 at Donner Lake Interchange, but expect long delays. Chain controls still in effect.
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UPDATE 1:47PM: From Caltrans: I-80 is closed between Kingvale and Donner Lake Road due to extremely heavy snowfall and multiple collisions. No estimated time of reopening.
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With Christmas Eve travelers going east and westbound over the Sierra along two major highways, a Winter Weather Advisory for Lake Tahoe and Winter Storm Warning along the west slope of the Sierra in California, it is almost a sure bet motorists will experience delays before reaching their final destinations.

Hello Carson City and welcome to Monday, Dec. 24, 2018. Today is Christmas Eve, where kitchens burst with delicious creations and family and friends prepare to gather in fellowship and faith. Last minute shoppers will appreciate that many retailers, including local businesses and art galleries, are open today for those zero-hour Christmas gifts.

Winter weather will arrive in time for Christmas with a good chance of rain turning to light snow Monday night into Christmas morning around Carson City and valley areas and a solid chance for snow accumulation in the Sierra, according to the National Weather Service.

Reader Cullen Shiffrin sent in these photos of a mysterious light over town, taken on Wednesday evening. Could it be space junk, part of the ongoing meteor shower, or perhaps spooky aliens looking to become Carson City tourists?

The National Weather Service in Reno posted on Twitter that the light "was likely a meteor or space debris entering the upper atmosphere."

A storm system will move across the Sierra and western Nevada region Sunday night, making travel difficult in the mountains and prompting a Winter Weather Advisory for the Lake Tahoe area and a Winter Storm Warning for the west slope of the Northern Sierra in California, according to the National Weather Service.

Hello Carson City and welcome to Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. Kicking off the work week we can expect cloud coverage today with a 30 percent chance of rain or snow showers after 10 a.m., according to the National Weather Service. Little or no snow accumulation is expected though the roads may get icy in spots. Here is what's happening around Carson City today:

A hawk was perched in a tree just off Ormsby Blvd, surveying the fields of the former Anderson Ranch and waiting for breakfast to emerge in spite of the cold air trapped by a cloud inversion that has continued to blanket the Carson City area.

That strange glow in the sky south of the Carson City area on Friday afternoon was not an illusion.

RENO — A destructive fire-generated vortex — a massive stream of rising, spinning, smoke, ash and fire — that topped out at 17,000 feet above the earth, accelerated the Carr fire that killed eight people and devastated a widespread area in the Redding, Calif., region in July 2018.

The vortex, a little-observed atmospheric phenomena, was spinning with the power of a class three tornado, which earned it the name of Firenado.

UPDATE 5:13PM: Slick road conditions and multiple spinouts are being reported by the Nevada Highway Patrol during the Tuesday evening commute. The National Weather Service advises motorists to slow down and take extra caution when driving. The snow is expected to end before the morning commute, but roads may remain slippery. The weather service Winter Weather Advisory was activated late this afternoon due to snow arriving earlier than expected.
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Between 2 to 4 inches of snow expected overnight Tuesday into Wednesday around Carson City and Western Nevada has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Winter Weather Advisory for the region.

A Winter Weather Advisory has been posted by the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno for the greater Reno, Carson City and Minden Area, including Sparks, Gardnerville, and Virginia City.

Rain has changed to heavy, wet snow Thursday morning along lower valley floors above Carson City, Minden, Reno and Sparks, according to the National Weather Service.

A second round of pile burning is being conducted Wednesday by the Carson City Fire Department. The burn is being done in the area of Kings Canyon and Longview on the C Hill side.

Carson City Fire Department Chief Sean Slamon spoke with Carson Now this morning about the burning and concerns some readers have expressed regarding the timing of the burning and what factors go into making decisions to pile burn.

For most, waking up this morning to rain was a big relief given the fire situation over the past few months. Today is Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. The storm systems will continue over the next few days with the possibility of snow down to the valley floors by Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. As always, be safe out there. For the latest Carson City area forecast see CarsonWeather.com.

A clearer picture of what this week’s series of storms may bring has emerged from National Weather Service forecasters Monday, with a Winter Storm Watch now in effect for Lake Tahoe and Sierra, which could see 3 or more feet of snow and a slight chance of snow down to the valley floors by the end of the week.

UPDATE MONDAY: The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Watch for the greater Lake Tahoe area and the Sierra from Wednesday night through late Thursday. Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations 6 to 12 inches, with 1 to 3 feet above 7,000 feet possible.
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Active weather patterns will begin to move into the Sierra and Carson City region beginning Tuesday, with valley rain and mountain snow at Lake Tahoe extending into Friday and possibly beyond, according to the National Weather Service.

A large rainbow appeared in the sky above North Carson City late on Black Friday morning, Nov. 23.

With valley rain and mountain snow making its way into the region overnight and early Thursday morning, the brunt of a weather system now moving into the Sierra and Carson City region will begin with increasingly strong wind conditions, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a High Wind Warning.

Good day Carson City and Happy Thanksgiving. Today is Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018. With the arrival of this festival day of feast, family, friendship and thanks, Mother Nature delivered valley rain and Sierra snow overnight. Gusty winds are expected later this afternoon. This morning appears to be in between weather systems, which is good news for those headed to the Governor's Mansion for the annual Turkey Trot. It may be soggy, but not heavy on the rain side.

Hello Carson City and welcome to the day before Thanksgiving. Today is Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018. If your travel plans include going over the Sierra, the National Weather Service advises to head out before the afternoon. Otherwise, you may hit the first of two winter storms to land tonight and into Friday. Be safe out there.

With up to a foot of snow expected in the high Sierra this week during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, the National Weather Service on Monday issued a Winter Storm Watch for the greater Lake Tahoe area and Mono County.

UPDATE: Are you ready for a weather change Carson City? The National Weather Service urges holiday travelers to plan now for impacts as systems are coming together that will likely bring gusty winds, valley rain and mountain snow ahead of Thanksgiving and into Saturday.

Are you ready for a weather change Carson City? The National Weather Service urges holiday travelers to plan now for impacts as systems are coming together that will likely bring gusty winds, valley rain and mountain snow ahead of Thanksgiving and into Saturday.

Don't let the Interstate 580 freeway closure put a damper on your Sunday. There is still plenty to do close to home in Carson City.

How about a high temperature of 74 degrees in the Nevada state capital on the first Sunday of November? That's according to the National Weather Service in Reno, and it ought to be motivation enough to get outside, soak up the warm weather and enjoy all that the Carson City area has to offer.

A low pressure system moving into the Carson City region will bring strong gusty winds Sunday, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Red Flag Warning for much of Western Nevada.

Expect widespread sub-freezing temperatures Sunday night into Monday morning for both rural and urban areas throughout the Carson City region, western Nevada and Sierra.

Forecasters say we can expect typical fall weather in the Sierra, Carson City and western Nevada this week with high temperatures near normal and mainly dry conditions.