Warm and dry conditions will continue through Tuesday, followed by a storm system that will reach Carson City and surrounding counties by late Wednesday, bringing strong winds, valley rain and heavy Sierra snow to the region, according to the National Weather Service.
The arriving storm has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Winter Storm Watch from 1 a.m. Thursday to 4 a.m. Friday for Lake Tahoe and Sierra. Heavy snow is expected above 7,000 feet with accumulations of 4 to 10 inches possible, 1 to 5 inches at lake level and 8 to 18 inches along the Sierra crest. Wind gusts are expected to exceed 100 mph on ridges.
Gusty winds late Wednesday into Thursday morning
The storm system arrives Wednesday afternoon with gusty winds that will intensify during the overnight hours, peaking sometime Thursday morning as the front advances through the region, according to NWS forecasters.
Preliminary expectations are the winds will be from the south to southwest with gusts of 40 mph to 50 mph in Sierra valleys and Sierra Front between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. Thursday with wind prone locales flirting with 60 mph gusts.
Meanwhile, communities in the Western Nevada Basin and Range will likely see strongest gusts of 30 mph to 40 mph in the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. window.
The weather service advises to be prepared for bumpy flights, choppy lakes and difficult driving conditions for high-profile vehicles Thursday morning, especially along I-80 and US-50 where crosswind hazards are most likely.
Valley rain and Sierra snow
Winds will likely remain breezy through the afternoon Thursday, but should weaken after the front passes and rain and snow moves in. While a few showers may develop in the Sierra as early as Wednesday evening, Sierra snowfall begins in earnest Thursday morning in concert with the cold frontal passage.
Snow levels continue to be tricky with this storm, especially with the potential for a heavier band of precipitation but should be low enough to allow snowfall (60-90 percent chance of 6-plus inches of snow) along Sierra passes, likely resulting in travel disruptions Thursday. See the National Weather Service Reno website for storm updates.
Forecasters advised motorists to get their traveling done before Thursday and after that be prepared for slick roads and delays if you must travel in the Sierra and over mountain passes. See NVroads.com for travel conditions.
Snow levels will likely continue to fall toward or below lake level in the wake of the cold front, but rain and snow may become more showery in nature, forecasters said.
Farther east, shadowing will likely keep western Nevada dry initially before rain finally spills over Thursday morning once the front arrives. A few showers will likely linger into Friday. The weekend looks to be dry.
Check back for updates.
