Gusty winds prompt power cut warning Wednesday for southwestern Carson City to Genoa and VC Highlands
UPDATE: Due to increased fire weather conditions, NV Energy has upgraded a Public Safety Outage Management (PSOM) Watch to Warning status in Genoa, southwestern Carson City and Virginia City Highlands in northern Nevada for today, Nov. 13 and into tomorrow morning.
A PSOM warning means a de-energization is likely to prevent the possibility of sparking a wildfire.
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A storm expected to move into the region Wednesday has prompted NV Energy to issue a Public Safety Outage Management (PSOM) warning for southwest Carson City to Genoa and the Virginia City Highlands.
The power shut-off is possible Wednesday, Nov. 13 from approximately 10 a.m. to approximately 7 p.m.
A watch means that weather criteria indicate NV Energy may need to proactively shut off power to prevent wildfires in your community. The utility requests customers prepare for the possibility of a PSOM event.
NV Energy will continue to monitor conditions and provide updates as they are available.
If you are currently experiencing an outage, please visit the Outage Center.
A Wind Advisory was also upgraded to a Red Flag Warning issued until 7 p.m. Wednesday night for Carson City and surrounding counties.
Winds will be from the southwest, 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph. Wind prone locations may experience 60+ mph wind gusts. Humidity will be between 14-25% increasing later this evening.
The combination of gusty winds and low humidity can cause fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity before first responders can contain them.
People are advised to avoid outdoor activities that can cause a spark near dry vegetation, such as yard work, target shooting, or campfires. Follow local fire restrictions. Check weather.gov/reno for updates
There is a Winter Weather Advisory for the greater Lake Tahoe Basin area about 6,500 feet from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday.
Wet snow above 6, 500 feet is expected with accumulations 1 to 4 inches on the west side of Tahoe and up to 2 inches on the east side of Tahoe, according to NWS forecasters. Winds are expected to gust up to 50 mph.
Motorists should plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions may impact the Wednesday evening commute, especially across Donner and Echo summits. Very strong winds and snow will significantly reduce visibility as times, forecasters note. For the latest travel updates see NVRoads.com.
Meanwhile, for the Carson City area, it will be gusty Wednesday with some some scattered showers. Thursday will bring a chance of showers, with rain and snow likely Thursday night and snow showers Friday, with highs in the low 40s, according to the National Weather Service.
Check back for updates.