Carson City weather: Forecasters now say winter storm is bigger, will produce more snow
A winter storm moving into the region has grown bigger with more precipitation potential than originally forecasted that will likely bring a punch of snow accumulation to the valleys, prompting a Winter Weather Advisory for the Carson City region and a Winter Storm Warning for Lake Tahoe and the Sierra.
There has been an upward shift in forecast precipitation early Sunday through Monday, according to the weather service, with models that have trended wetter and snow totals that have been increased as a result. Snow levels will start dropping down to Lake Tahoe by midnight Saturday and then lower to around 5,000 to 5,500 ft through the day Sunday. Then lowering further to all valley floors Sunday night into Monday morning, according to the weather service.
Snow levels will lower to valley floors, around 4,000 feet, with snowfall potential to the lower elevations as well, hence the Winter Weather Advisory late Sunday afternoon until Monday morning for Carson City, Carson Valley, Virginia City and Reno and Sparks areas. Originally it was thought only a couple inches would fall around Carson City and the valleys. Now the weather service says there's a potential of 4 to 8 inches on some valley floors beginning at around the 5,000 foot level. Forecasters are saying this will make for a major impact during Monday morning commutes.
Meanwhile, there will be significant snowfall into early Sunday especially in the higher elevations around Lake Tahoe and throughout the Sierra.
Travel will become hazardous as snowfall rates exceed plowing capabilities, according to the weather service. Also, there will be the possibility of thunderstorms as well, according to the weather service. This convection will be able to produce fairly extreme snowfall-rates creating potentially life threatening situations especially for those out in the back country with rapid snow accumulation and whiteout conditions.
Go here for the latest discussion from the National Weather Service and go to CarsonWeather.com for the latest conditions around Carson City.