Weather Service: Strong thunderstorms heading into Carson City area
The National Weather Service is tracking strong thunderstorms moving into the Carson City region Saturday afternoon and is advising people to prepare for lightning, gusty winds and pea-size hail.
At 3:57 p.m., Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Fort Churchill Station to near Bliss State Park. Movement was north at 25 mph.
The weather service says wind gusts are up to 40 mph with pea size hail. Forecaster advise gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.
Locations impacted include Carson City, South Lake Tahoe, Alpine Meadows, Squaw Valley, Tahoe City, Incline Village, Kings Beach, Gardnerville, Virginia City, Gardnerville Ranchos, Dayton, Johnson Lane, Yerington, Spooner Summit, Carson City Airport, Glenbrook, Emerald Bay, Crystal Bay, New Washoe City, and Genoa.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.
If on or near Lake Tahoe, get out of the water and move indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.