Carson City area weather: Spring weather system to bring gusty winds, chance of snow showers
After a couple sunny days to mark the start of spring, typical weather patterns fitting for the season will start up again late Monday bringing cooler temperatures, a chance for snow showers and brisk winds for western Nevada, Lake Tahoe and Sierra.
The National Weather Service in Reno says a cold front will sweep through the region Monday night bringing a chance for periods of snow showers followed by brisk northeast winds through Tuesday and possibly into early Wednesday.
According to a special weather statement, NWS forecasters say a burst of moderate to heavy snow could result in scattered snow covered roads in Western Nevada and the Eastern Sierra Monday night. This may also affect the Tuesday morning commute.
However, the chance for precipitation Monday night into early Tuesday morning for the Carson City area — either be it rain or snow showers — is for now around 40 percent.
Per the Monday night forecast for Carson City: "A slight chance of rain showers before 10 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of snow showers after 2 a.m. Snow level 5,700 feet lowering to 4,800 feet after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. West wind 5 to 15 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected."
For Minden and the Carson Valley area Monday night: "A slight chance of rain showers before 8 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of snow showers after 2 a.m. Snow level 5,700 feet lowering to 4,800 feet after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. West wind 5 to 15 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
For the Reno and Sparks area: "A slight chance of rain showers before 10 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers between 10 p.m., and 2 a.m., then a chance of snow showers after 2 a.m. Snow level 5,700 feet lowering to 4600 feet after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Little or no snow accumulation expected."
Tuesday will bring back mostly sunny skies with highs in the low to mid-40s.
For Lake Tahoe and the Sierra, strong northeast winds could affect ski areas Tuesday into early Wednesday, along with creating rough water on Lake Tahoe particularly the west shores. Wind chills will drop to -20 at times on exposed ridges, which can result in frostbite in just 30 minutes.
Current weather service simulations "project a 70 percent chance of seeing a dusting of snow Monday night, with a 20 percent chance of receiving an inch or more. The best chances are near and east of Highway 95 but some risk extending to Highway 395/580 communities," according to the weather service. "Northeast ridge winds from Mammoth to Tahoe are likely to gust over 80 mph Tuesday into early Wednesday with gusts 30-40 mph on Lake Tahoe yielding waves of 3-4 feet."
The weather service advises to monitor the forecast if you have travel or mountain recreation plans Monday night through Tuesday and early Wednesday.
See the latest forecast at weather.gov/Reno and check road conditions with Caltrans and NDOT.
For the latest weather discussion go here. For Carson City area updates see CarsonWeather.com.