UPDATE: A High Wind Warning, Wind Advisory, and Lake Wind Advisory have been issued by the National Weather Service for Carson City, surrounding counties and various portions of the Sierra and western Nevada. Damaging winds, difficult travel, power outages, blown objects, and elevated wave heights on Lake Tahoe are possible.

Winds are out of the southwest, 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 65 mph. The warning will continue until 10 p.m. Monday. Widespread power outages are expected. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

Gusty winds, valley rain and high elevation snow arrived in Carson City and surrounding counties Saturday, extending through Sunday and into next week, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

Heavy snowfall for the storm system this weekend will be along the higher elevations of the Sierra, with nearly continuous rainfall at lower elevations. This is expected to cause rises in regional creeks and streams, NWS forecasters said.

A Flood Watch is in effect from Saturday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon for the Lake Tahoe Basin, down into the foothills. The watch area extends from north into Lassen County and south into Alpine County on the California side.

Recent burn areas including the Davis Fire area in Washoe County are prone to increased runoff and transport of sediment, which may plug drainages and result in flooding in unexpected areas, forecasters note.

Gusty winds on Sunday has prompted a High Wind Warning for Carson City and surrounding counties. Winds will be from the southwest, 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 55 mph. Wind prone areas may gust up to 65 mph and ridge winds may gust has high as 100 mph, forecasters said.

Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.

The warm airmass will cause snow levels to remain rather high for this weekend. However, early next week, cold air from the north will move in, joining forces with the warm system to drop snow levels. By midweek, there could be snow down to valley floors, NWS forecasters said.

Here’s what forecasters are advising for the coming days.

Valley rain, and Sierra snow above 7,500 to 8,000 feet. Heavy rain will develop Saturday afternoon for the northern Sierra into the Lake Tahoe Basin, with values of expected water equivalent ranging 1 to 3 inches across southern Lassen and Plumas counties, forecasters said.

Further south, amounts increase significantly, especially along the western side of the Tahoe Basin where liquid totals will range 2 to 6 inches of water.

Western Nevada valleys could see a range of a few hundredths of an inch over the Basin and Range to up to one inch of water equivalent for the Truckee Meadows and Carson Valley. This is through early Sunday, when the atmospheric river will move north, with higher totals into the western portions of Modoc, Lassen, Plumas and Sierra counties of California.

For Sunday, those liquid totals will range 1 to 4 inches. As for western Nevada valleys, even less than on Saturday with the range from a few hundredths to up to 0.75 inches, with the bulk of moisture found from US-95 to the east and US-50 to the north. This oscillating behavior will continue to dictate when the greater totals will be aimed at this region.

Changes Monday
Snow levels will start to fall Monday morning as the upper low drops in and taps into colder air. Areas around Lassen County to the northeast will see snow levels drop to around 6,000 feet, forecasters said.

From the Lake Tahoe Basin southward along the Sierra, snow levels will tumble 6,500 to 7500 feet in Mono County.

There is a 70 percent chance for a significant amount of snow to accumulate along I-80 near Donner Pass, with a 12-16 inch total possible by early Tuesday morning. Snow will continue Tuesday as snow levels drop to valley floors by Tuesday night, according to forecasters. Overnight lows on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning will be reminiscent of recent cold spells. We will wake to a chilly Wednesday commute, with potential for travel impacts all the way to the valley floors.

Impacts

Travelers should anticipate chain controls, delays, and hazardous driving conditions over mountain passes. It is advised to check road conditions with NVroads.com or call 511 before traveling into the mountains.

Motorists should be prepared for hazardous driving conditions in wind prone areas, especially for high profile vehicles, especially during the late morning through early evening hours on Sunday and Monday, forecasters said.

Aviation interests should be prepared for frequent periods of mountain wave turbulence, rotors, and LLWS.

The windy conditions will also bring choppy lake conditions with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet for larger area lakes through Sunday, except 2-5 feet on Sunday for Lake Tahoe.

Other potential impacts include downed trees and powerlines, plus power outages, especially over higher terrain.

Check back for updates.