Carson City weather: Valley rain and Sierra snow ahead for Thanksgiving holiday travel

UPDATE: Are you ready for a weather change Carson City? The National Weather Service urges holiday travelers to plan now for impacts as systems are coming together that will likely bring gusty winds, valley rain and mountain snow ahead of Thanksgiving and into Saturday.

The first of these waves arrives Wednesday, followed by a second stronger system for Thanksgiving Day into Friday. A third, much weaker, storm will shift through the region over the weekend.

With it being a busy holiday travel period, the anticipated weather could bring significant impacts to travel in the Sierra. It is best to have a winter travel kit and plan for potentially long delays Wednesday through Friday.

Wednesday: First of two storms will bring a period of rain and snow to the region. Heaviest rain and snow could move through the region late Wednesday afternoon and Wednesday evening. Best advice is to travel over the Sierra passes Wednesday morning or early Wednesday afternoon.

Thursday Night and Friday: Stronger storm possible with high winds impacting travel across western Nevada. Periods of heavy rain and snow possible for the northern Sierra, including the Tahoe Basin and Carson Pass. Minimal amounts of rain and snow will reach Mono County. Have an alternate set of travel plans, if possible consider delaying travel until Saturday.

Here's what to look for: Winds will begin to increase on Wednesday becoming strong and gusty Thursday into Friday. Overall, winds will be gradient driven and south to southwest in direction. There are some signals pointing toward potential downslope enhancement Thursday and Friday as flow becomes more southwest to west at ridgetop level, but confidence remains low at this time. Winds are likely to cause travel impacts for both ground transport and aviation in addition to dangerous choppy conditions on area lakes.

Rain and Snow: Signs point toward snow in the mountains, with possibly a mix of rain and snow for the Lake Tahoe Basin and communities along Highway 395 in Mono County. Valleys in western Nevada are most likely to remain as rain, but localized areas above 5500 feet in elevation could see brief periods of snow, including Geiger Grade into Virginia City. While none of the 3 storms are especially strong, the snow totals may add up, according to the weather service.

These will vary through the multiple systems, but the biggest change is the anticipation for snow levels to rise on Friday due to the fact the system is tapping into milder Pacific moisture. We are currently forecasting snow levels to be around 5500-6500 feet on the lower end and 6500-7500 feet during milder periods. Snow levels can also fluctuate depending on precipitation intensity — heavier precipitation rates tend to drag snow levels down, according to the weather service.

With it being a busy holiday travel period, the anticipated weather could bring significant impacts to travel in the Sierra. It is best to have a winter travel kit and plan for potentially long delays Wednesday through Friday.

Updated state road conditions, including winter road closures and incidents, are available by dialing “511” or logging on to nvroads.com before driving. Drivers can also view live traffic cameras and sign up for free traffic alerts for their state road commute.

Winter Driving Tips
— Only travel in winter weather when necessary, leave enough time to safely reach your destination and plan your route to help avoid snowy/icy areas and steep hills.
— Before driving, check weather and road conditions by dialing 511 within Nevada (or 1-877-NV-ROADS outside of Nevada) or logging on to www.nvroads.com.
— Buckle up.
— Turn off cruise control.
— Avoid quick starts, stops and fast turns. Accelerate, brake and steer smoothly and gradually.
— Reduce speed. Speed limits are based on normal road and weather conditions, not winter road conditions.
— Do not slam on brakes. Apply steady pressure on ABS-equipped vehicles and pump the brakes if necessary on non-ABS vehicles.
— Always comply with all posted chain requirements.
— If your vehicle has snow tires, install and use them between October 1 and April 30.
— Leave additional space between your vehicle and other vehicles. Do not pass without good sight distance and clearance.