Carson City area weather: Windy through Sunday and overnight with rain and snow showers

Gusty winds will arrive Sunday afternoon and continue into the evening as a quick hitting storm passes through the region, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a Wind Advisory for the Carson City area and western Nevada and a Red Flag Warning for southern Lyon and Mineral counties as well as the Southern Sierra Front.

The storm will bring strong and gusty winds Sunday afternoon into early Monday morning with light rain and snow showers possible overnight into Monday morning along the valley floors and a few inches of snow in the Sierra. There's a Winter Weather Advisory for the Lake Tahoe Basin from 7 p.m. Sunday night until 5 a.m. Monday morning.

The weather service says southwest winds will be 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. Wind prone locations along US-395 could see gusts over 60 mph. The Wind Advisory is in effect from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. It includes the Reno area, Carson City, Carson Valley areas, Lake Tahoe Basin, northern Washoe County, and Lassen, Eastern Plumas and Eastern Sierra counties in California and Surprise Valley, Calif.

Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects and travel may be difficult for high profile vehicles, according to the weather service. Hazardous boating conditions are expected on area lakes. Tree limbs and weakened or burned trees could be blown down, the weather service says.

There's an increased potential for enhanced fire danger with the strong winds and moderately dry conditions. Strongest winds are expected along US-395 in the North Valleys, between Susanville and Doyle, Washoe Valley, and the Carson Valley, according to the weather service.

There is a potential for damaging wind gusts exceeding 60-plus mph Sunday through early Monday morning for eastern Sierra locations such as Mammoth Lakes, Lee Vining, Bridgeport, Topaz Lake areas, according to the weather service. The Red Flag Warning is from 2 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday morning and is for Southern Mono County, Southern Sierra Front including Alpine, Northern Mono, Southern Lyon, and Western Mineral counties.

For Western Nevada, we can expect a light rain/snow mix by early Monday morning down in the lower valleys below 5,000 feet with some trace snow amounts up to an inch across foothill locations. Cold temperatures behind the front will cause snow compounded roads to freeze rapidly, according to the weather service. For travel advisories, see NVRoads.com.

The storm will quickly exit Monday with a few residual snow showers likely through the day. North to northwest brisk winds will keep it feeling pretty chilly across western Nevada through Tuesday. High temperatures will be mostly in the low to mid 50s for the lower valleys and 40s for Sierra valleys.

According to the weather service, the storm is expected to bring snow-covered roads for the Sierra passes, with chain controls and slow-downs possible. For lower valley areas, plan on slick roads. Give yourself plenty of time on Monday to account for not optimal road conditions.

Forecasters advise that If you can, plan on leaving by midday Sunday to avoid snow and travel issues along the Sierra passes this evening into early Monday morning. Simulations have trended up with this system and there may be 3 to 6 inches of snowfall (15 percent chance of up to 8 inches) along the passes as this potent system rolls through the region. Snow potential down below 7,000 feet to lake level could see 1-2 inches, according to the weather service.

For the Lake Tahoe Basin, localized areas with heavier accumulations are possible with a period of higher snowfall rates, reduced visibility, and a 5-10% chance of lightning as the cold frontal band passes across the Sierra on Sunday evening. There may be some snow showers for Alpine and northern Mono counties as well, but the bulk of the precipitation stays along and north of Highway 50.