Carson City area weather: Heatwave by weekend to bring temperatures more than 100 degrees

A heatwave will continue to build this week for the Carson City region and western Nevada, bringing temperatures that will peak this weekend to more than 100 degrees, prompting the National Weather Service to issue an Excessive Heat Watch from Saturday to Monday.

Dangerously hot conditions with afternoon temperatures 100 to 108 are possible, Saturday, Sunday and Monday for western Nevada valleys, with mid 80s to mid 90s for mountains, according to the weather service. Daytime highs Tuesday through Friday will be in the upper 90s to near 100.

Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities. The weather service advises people to monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates on this situation.

Be prepared to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

According to the CDC, everyone should take these steps to prevent heat-related illnesses, injuries, and death during hot weather:

— Never leave children or pets in cars.
— Stay in an air-conditioned indoor location as much as you can.
— Drink plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty.
— Schedule outdoor activities carefully.
— Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and sunscreen.
— Pace yourself.
— Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
— Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.

Here is the NWS weather discussion from Wednesday morning:

Hot, above average afternoon temperatures continue for the next week with highs reaching 100 to 108 degrees for valleys in northeast California and western Nevada over the weekend. Typical afternoon breezes are expected through Thursday with lighter breezes Friday through the weekend. Low thunderstorm chances return late in the week.

Short-term
Slight chance for isolated thunderstorms over Mono/Mineral Counties each afternoon starting Thursday and continuing into next week. Hot summer temperatures that will continue to trend hotter this weekend. Little change to the short term forecast outside some minor maintenance to acknowledge updated model guidance. Speaking of model guidance, it continues to pursue the notion for strong high pressure building over the Desert Southwest into the Great Basin region. High pressure ridging into western Nevada and the Sierra will ensure skies remain mostly clear as a stable-dry southwest upper flow increases over northeast CA and western NV through much of the short term forecast.

Temperature-wise through Friday, afternoons will remain very warm in Sierra valleys and hot in lower valleys with only a very minor down tick in daytime temperatures possibly today and Thursday. For the most part regional temperature reaming 5-10 degrees above average through the remainder of the week. This trend will continue into the weekend with some daytime and even higher overnight temps either touching or exceeding record territory.

It is still advised to continue to hydrate, stay in an air-conditioned building, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

This cannot be reiterated more but young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles.

Afternoon and evening breezes will approach more typical summer levels today through Thursday. Another weak wave, however, will push into the Pacific Northwest Thursday and drag its southern extension across northern CA and NV as it flattens the upper ridge. As this upper wave continues east into the northern Inter-mountain West, the ridge axis will shift south and allow a more west/east push of momentum over the northern Sierra and northwest Nevada. The afternoon thermal/pressure gradient tightens in response to the trough passage and will translate into a slight pickup of wind Thursday afternoon with some gusts topping into the 35 mph range. As this upper trough axis passes over northern CA/NV it complements the already hot/dry conditions over the region so elevated fire weather concerns remain topic of concern.

Therefore a fire weather watch is in effect for areas within the northern and southern Sierra Front Thursday afternoon and evening.

Today, mid-level capping is expected to suppress any thunderstorm development through the afternoon/evening with storm chances remaining below 10 percent. A minor moisture increase in a weak southerly upper flow into the central Sierra Thursday and Friday may sneak into areas south of Highway 50. This could allow for a few cumulus build-ups or even an isolated thunderstorm or two in the afternoon over Mineral and southern Lyon counties as modest westerly wind convergence develops. Given surface convergence and the modest intrusion of some mid to level moisture, thunderstorm chances will still remain relatively low. But this could change as storm chances briefly pop up into 10-15% territory given the strong surface heating under clear skies which is enough to overcome any mid level cap.

Long-term, Saturday through early next week

Excessive heat watch continues for Saturday through Monday. The upper ridge will finally break its restraints in the wake of the Pacific Northwest upper trough and swell over the southwest CONUS Friday and through the weekend. This will bring a trend up in temperatures into the weekend with atrocious afternoon temperatures topping out between 100 and 108 for valleys near and below 5000 feet for the weekend (versus mid 90`s to low 100`s prior to Saturday).

With both European and GEFS ensemble simulations still following similar pattern, confidence remains high that lower valley locations will see highs consistently topping triple digits into early next week. NBM guidance suggests that there is around a 10 percent chance for the all time record high (108) to be reached at the Reno climate station over the weekend. The Sierra will not be able to dodge this heat bullet either with highs reaching the upper 80`s to mid 90's by the weekend.

Thunderstorm chances begin slowly to peek up over eastern California and far western Nevada later in the week as the heat builds and encourages higher terrain build-ups. Chances look to be running between 10-20 percent under the influence of the strong upper high; therefore, any developing storms may have little effect in controlling the repressive afternoon heat.

See Carsonweather.com for local updates.