Carson City area weather: Light snow may impact Thursday commute; clearing by weekend
A quick-moving cold storm will impact the Sierra, Carson City and surrounding counties overnight through Thursday morning, bringing potential travel disruptions to the morning commute, the National Weather Service in Reno advises.
Light snowfall is possible tonight could make for slick conditions overnight into Thursday morning. Snow will generally be an inch or less for the Carson City area and lower valleys, with up to 3 inches possible above 5,000 feet and in northern Washoe County, NWS forecasters said.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the greater Lake Tahoe area with 3 to 8 inches of snow possible at lake level, and up to a foot above 7,000 feet, NWS forecasters said. The advisory funds from 6 p.m. Wednesday to 4 a.m. Thursday.
At Lake Tahoe and the Sierra, light to moderate snowfall is expected this evening into Thursday morning, creating travel issues, especially at passes above 7,000 feet. Anywhere from 3 to 8 inches of snowfall is possible across northeast California mainly west of US-395 and the northern Sierra Nevada below 7,000 feet.
Above 7,000 feet in the northern Sierra, 6 to 12 inches are possible. Farther south into Mono County, 1 to 5 inches of snowfall will be possible west of US-395, with 6 to 8 inches along the Sierra crest. Strong west-southwest wind gusts to 90 mph are probable along ridges across the Sierra Nevada, generating impacts to backcountry recreation and aviation interests.
The weather service advises motorists to prepare for slow going traffic and icy spots Thursday morning in western Nevada. Leave early and take your time. Travel over Sierra passes could be very difficult. Have your winter travel kit ready in your vehicle with food, water, clothing, blankets, flashlights, chains, etc.
Check NVroads.com or call 511 for the latest travel conditions.
A quieter period looks likely for this weekend and will herald the start of a period of quiet weather as high pressure over the eastern Pacific ridges into the West Coast. This increases a drier-colder northerly upper flow that should last the remainder of January, according to NWS forecasters.