Thunderstorm threat prompts Red Flag fire warning for Carson City, northern Nevada region
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Sun, 08/16/2020 - 8:55am
Hot dry weather along with isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms ahead have prompted the National Weather Service to issue a Red Flag fire weather warning and a heat advisory for the Carson City area and throughout northern Nevada.
Stormy weather has developed Sunday morning and will continue through the northern Sierra and into much of Northern and Western Nevada. The Red Flag Warning for thunderstorms and strong outflow winds, is from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, according to the weather service.
Forecasters say thunderstorms will be fast moving, producing lightning and limited rainfall, mainly between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday with additional thunderstorms possible into the late afternoon and evening. Outflow winds from the storms could bring gusts between 40 to 50 mph.
The weather service advises that the lightning can create new fire starts and may combine with strong outflow winds to cause a fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity before first responders can contain them. Avoid outdoor activities that can cause a spark near dry vegetation, such as yard work, target shooting, or campfires.
Strong storms will be capable of producing winds gusts over 50 mph, small hail, and a brief periods of heavy rain. The flash flooding and debris flow threat appears to be rather low due to faster storm motions, though any slower moving storms could easily drop a burst of heavy rain which would be a threat near burn areas or in steep, sparsely vegetated terrain.
Meanwhile, a heat advisory has been issued through Tuesday evening for much of western Nevada. Above normal temperatures continue across the region for the next several days. Temperatures will be a few degrees cooler Sunday over Saturday's highs, although still well above normal with temps near 100 degrees in the desert valleys and highs near 90 in the Sierra.
Warm overnight temperatures are being seen all across the region this morning due to abundant cloud cover. The combined heat and mild overnight lows will bring heat impacts to sensitive populations, those exposed to the afternoon sun for long periods of time, and to those who do not have adequate home cooling. If you have outdoor plans be prepared for the heat and definitely carry extra water if you are going to be outside for several hours.
Strong high pressure will remain over the Great Basin through the first half of this week with well above normal temperatures and chances for afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms. Storms will initiate over the higher elevations of the Sierra and northeast California and move off to the north and east into western Nevada through the late afternoon and evening hours.
See CarsonWeather.com for the latest forecast updates around the Carson City area.
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