Carson City area weather update: Storms line up to bring valley rain, Sierra snow
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Tue, 02/13/2024 - 11:46pm
After a brief respite from snow earlier this month, changes are ahead for Carson City and surrounding counties with periods of breezy winds, mountain snow and valley rain showers Wednesday through Thursday and again Saturday into next week.
The National Weather Service in Reno says travelers can expect brief periodic impacts over mountain passes, starting with the first storm arriving late Wednesday into Thursday. Otherwise, rain is expected for lower valleys sometime early Thursday.
A Winter Weather Advisory begins Wednesday for the Greater Lake Tahoe area, northeast California and Mono County, ending at 10 a.m. Thursday.
For the Sierra region, beginning Wednesday, winds will shift from west, with peak wind gusts with this storm will be 60-80 mph for the ridges, with precipitation arriving overnight into early Thursday morning.
The concern is increasing for travel over mountain passes. Weather models suggest an 80 percent chance of a foot of snow more more from Donner Pass northward. There's a 50 percent chance of 6-plus inches of snow in the Lake Tahoe Basin and for areas west of US-395, according to the latest NWS forecaster discussion.
The weather service advises to plan on a slow-going commute Thursday morning if headed over the mountain passes. See NVroads.com or call 511 for the latest road updates.
As the storm slowly drags southward Thursday morning, Alpine and Mono counties will get their chances at some snow, NWS forecasters said. The highest potential for snow accumulation will be right along the crest with 50-60 percent chance for a foot of snow in Alpine and then 30 to 40 percent for Mono County, NWS forecasters said.
Western Nevada and the lower valleys won't see much with this one, but it may be a little wet down in the valleys on Thursday morning with potential for a rain/snow mix for the higher foothills along with some breezes 25 mph to 35 mph, forecasters note.
The stronger, wetter storms will enter into the picture beginning Saturday into early next week. Weather models suggest the next storm will push into the Sierra and western Nevada Saturday, which will provide another round of Sierra snow and valley rain. This storm will be a precursor to the storm that is trending stronger and wetter slated for later Sunday into Monday.
There may be a break in the weather Sunday morning, but it appears to be a small travel window. Once that second storm arrives Sunday evening, the storm lingers about for the early half of next week, NWS forecasters said. Stay tuned and check back for updates.
