UPDATE 8:30PM: Fireworks in Carson City have been canceled due to gusty winds, according to the Carson City Fire Department.
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Independence Day has arrived along with cooler temperatures and breezy conditions by this afternoon around the Carson City and Lake Tahoe region. The breezes should, however, calm some later in the evening in time for fireworks shows, according to National Weather Service forecasters.
The dry weather pattern over western Nevada and Sierra will likely persist for the upcoming week with typical late day breezes. Temperatures will gradually warm to near average later in the week through next weekend, forecasters said.
For today, Monday around Lake Tahoe, breezy conditions are expected with winds out of the west southwest, 15 mph with gusts to 25 mph, and will stay around that level until around an hour after sunset, between 9 to 10 p.m., when breezes will diminish, said Dustin Norman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Reno.
For the higher elevations around Carson City there will be winds along the higher ridges in the Carson Range, that will stay elevated through the overnight hours. Down in the valleys, similar to the Lake Tahoe Basin, winds will diminish around an hour or so after sunset, said Norman.
For the Carson City, Carson Valley and Dayton areas, daytime temperatures Monday will be in the mid to high 70s to near 80 in some areas with breezy conditions and clear skies overnight.
Around the Lake Tahoe Basin, daytime highs Monday will be sunny and in the low to mid-60s, with mostly clear skies Monday evening.
Below and here is the latest area discussion from National Weather Service forecasters. Forecasters will update the discussion later Monday afternoon.
We will monitor conditions and update if any changes are made that could affect fireworks shows. Go here for information on upcoming July 4 drone and fireworks events around Lake Tahoe, Carson City and Virginia City.
Another relatively cool day is on tap to round out the July 4th holiday weekend as another shortwave rotates through the mean west coast trough. Moisture/convection associated with this feature will stay north of our area with some mid-high level clouds passing.
Breezes too will return this afternoon/evening but overall speeds look a tick lower than the ones we saw Sunday. For those heading out for festivities this evening, the breezes could linger for an hour or so after sunset, with minor delays possible for some fireworks shows. Having a light jacket handy is also a good idea, especially if heading to higher elevation sites.
If you have ever asked where normal weather went, well the rest of the week into next weekend could be about as close to that as is possible. Dry southwest flow, typical late day breezes and temperatures warming and leveling off near average for early July (highs in the upper 80s to mid 90s across warmer valleys and upper 70s to low 80s Sierra valleys). This mostly in part to a persistent trough over the west coast with the ridge staying well east. A shortwave passing through the trough could bring a slight bump in winds Friday, but we are still only talking gusts 25-30 mph.
Longer range (forecasting) indicate the trough weakening early next week as the upper ridge retrogrades some westward. Ensemble clusters generally show this but there are some timing differences. Some simulations show a return light southerly flow which could eventually lead to an increase in instability at some point next week. But confidence is low, especially given the 384 GEFS keeps it completely dry. It could also heat up a bit more. Something to watch.
Check back for updates.
