After a brief break between weather systems, more stormy weather will move into Carson City and surrounding counties bringing valley rain and heavy mountain snow into Wednesday.
The good news is Thanksgiving weekend looks to be clearing with generally dry conditions and cool temperatures, according to National Weather Service forecasters in the latest forecast discussion.
For those with holiday travel plans, the weather service has issued a Winter Storm Warning from 7 a.m. Monday to 4 p.m. Wednesday for greater Lake Tahoe area, and from 4 a.m. Monday to 4 a.m., Wednesday in Mono County and a Winter Weather Advisory from 4 p.m. Sunday to 4 a.m. Wednesday for Lassen, Eastern Plumas and Eastern Sierra counties in California.
See NVroads.com or call 511 for the latest travel conditions.
The latest storm will bring mostly rain as snow levels remain high with between 0.2 to 0.5 of an inch likely. There are some low chances for snow (around 20 percent) in the valleys as the system moves out Wednesday. At this time forecasters say it is unlikely there will be much in the way of accumulation as the moisture leaves the region with the arrival of the colder air on Wednesday morning.
Storm to bring Mountain Snow
The first wave of the storm moves in Sunday night with wind gusts increasing over the Sierra ridges. Winds continue to strengthen overnight resulting in gusty winds again by Monday afternoon.
Winds are not expected to be as strong as this past weekend, but expect gusts in the 30 to 45 mph range in the valleys with stronger winds over wind prone areas, NWS forecasters said. Ridge top winds will keep blowing until at least Tuesday morning. Wind conditions improve by Tuesday afternoon and/or evening.
The snow levels with this system will be fluctuating from Monday through Wednesday. Amounts will be in the range of 5 to 8 inches above 7,000 feet with isolated areas up to 10 to 12 inches in the highest peaks. The second band will be affecting the Tahoe Basin and the Eastern Sierra.
The greatest amounts will be expected over Mono County. Current, forecast accumulations show a signal for heavy snow in the area.
The Lake Tahoe basin near the Sierra crest has a 10 to 30 percent chance of getting 2 feet of snow, while near the crest in the Eastern Sierra the chances shoot up to 60 to 90 percent above 8,000 feet.
Mono County could still see impacts into Wednesday afternoon as the system leaves, but there is still some uncertainty with the timing. Snow amounts in the Sierra are looking, for now to be between 5,000 feet to 7,000 feet near the Tahoe basin and will range from 4 to 9 inches with a 20 to 60 percent chance of exceeding 6 inches.
Conditions improve on Wednesday afternoon as the system moves east, and it is replaced by a northwesterly dry and cool flow, NWS forecasters note, therefore expect drier conditions with a few lingering showers, especially south of Highway 50. Temperatures will be in a slow warm up trend, but we should remain below normal for late November, according to the weather service.
