Carson City area weather: excessive heat warning extended through Saturday morning
Carson City reached 101 on Monday and 100 Tuesday afternoon as a prolonged heatwave continues across the region. An Excessive Heat Warning is underway across western Nevada and much of the Silver State.
There are no official climate records for Carson City, according to the National Weather Service. Records are expected to be broken this week in the greater Reno area, and according to a NWS forecaster, Carson City would likely be experiencing record heat.
Forecasters note that the dry air mass over the state has allowed for nights to cool, but overnight lows are still 10-15 degrees above normal, which exacerbates the heat threat, especially for those without air conditioning. The Excessive Heat Warning is through 9 a.m. Saturday.
With the heatwave remaining stagnant through much of the week, a gradual cooling trend is expected Friday and through the weekend. By Sunday, high temps may only be 3-5 degrees above normal, or more typical July heat, according to the latest forecast discussion.
With this 'cool" down, winds will ramp up, forecasters said. Typical afternoon breezes with gusts 20-25 mph through Wednesday, will increase to 25-35 mph by Thursday-Friday and continue through the weekend. This brings an increase in fire weather concerns, especially given the extremely hot and dry conditions and state of the fuels.
Fires burning in California, Oregon, and Nevada will bring areas of smoke and haze to the region, as we are already seeing. Based on cameras around the region, and the latest smoke surveillance models, the densest smoke is near the Oregon border, in addition to in the vicinity of the Royal Fire in the Tahoe National Forest. Fire activity in the coming days will determine the extent of smoke and haze, forecasters said.
With the heat this week, isolated thunderstorms can't be ruled out, forecasters said, noting there's better storm chances Friday and into the weekend as moisture increases.
Elsewhere, a Heat Advisory has been lifted for the greater Lake Tahoe area. While daytime highs will still be in the 90s, the "Heat Risk" levels will mainly be minor to moderate due to cool overnight lows, according to the National Weather Service.
Keep cool during the heat
Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat events, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities.
People are advise to never leave children and pets unattended in vehicles as car interiors reach lethal temperatures within minutes. It is also advised to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency. Call 911.
NV Energy has advised customers to be prepared for potential outages due to strain on the power grid from the extreme temperatures and fire risk.
"Periods of extreme heat may cause isolated issues on NV Energy’s infrastructure, including equipment failure that can result in outages," the utility states in a news release. "NV Energy will have extra crews on standby throughout the weekend to quickly and safely respond to any outages that may occur. We appreciate your patience and understanding, as our crews may need to work in extreme heat conditions to make the necessary repairs and restore power safely."
NV Energy's advises customers to review its outage preparation tips to prepare ahead of any possible outage. Customers can also report outages and stay up to date on the number of outages, outage causes, number of customers impacted, and estimated time of restoration in the link here.
The utility offers the following tips that can help customers stay cool and conserve energy during time of extreme heat:
— Turn off lights and appliances when not in use.
— If your A/C unit is on the ground, keep the area around it clean and free of obstructions to maintain airflow.
Use the energy saver options for as many devices/appliances as possible.
— Keep windows closed. Keep outside air out and inside air in.
— Run full loads in your washer and dryer, and use "solar drying."
— If you are away for the weekend, turn your thermostat up.
— During periods of extreme heat, the National Weather Service recommends staying hydrated and avoid the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.