Carson City weather update: High wind warning, up to 4 inches of snow on valley floors

A High Wind Warning is underway for the region as Carson City braces for a fairly quick moving winter storm that is expected to bring 50 to 60 mph wind gusts followed by accumulating snow along the valley floors and 8 to 10 inches above 7,000 feet.

The High Wind Warning issued through the National Weather Service runs from Tuesday afternoon through 1 a.m. Wednesday. The strongest winds are expected Tuesday evening between 7 p.m. and midnight with gusts 50 to 60 mph in the valleys, up to 80 mph in wind prone areas and up to 120 mph along the Sierra Crest.

The weather service advises folks secure loose outdoor items such as patio furniture, holiday decorations, and trash cans before winds increase which could blow these items away. Have flashlights and candles ready in case the power goes out and, as always, bring in the pets.

As for snow, the weather service says Reno, Carson City, Carson Valley and Lyon County areas can expect anywhere from 2 to 4 inches. Motorists should plan for slippery road conditions, especially during the Wednesday morning commutes. In the Sierra, snow amounts could be anywhere from 8 to 10 inches above 7,000 feet, and 3 to 5 inches at lake level, according to the weather service.

A Winter Weather Advisory runs from 1 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday for the Sierra and valley floors.

After the storm ends, the weather for the region turns mostly sunny and cold through Christmas Day, with day time high temperatures in the 30s to low 40s and night time lows in the single digits and teens.

Meanwhile, the Nevada Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to check 511 Nevada for travel information and winter driving conditions.

With the winter storm forecast through Wednesday and heading into the busy holiday travel period, NDOT encourages motorists to visit 511 Nevada Travel Info for updated state road conditions. Motorists can also sign up up for e-mail and text alerts for their own frequently-traveled routes.

Launched in 2006, the 511 Nevada Travel Info service allows motorists to dial 511 toll-free, 24 hours a day or log onto nvroads.com for automated road conditions, on-line traffic cameras, roadway weather information, scheduled event road closures, construction updates and more. Out-of-state callers can dial 1-877-NV-ROADS to receive the same information. With Nevada law prohibiting use of handheld devices while behind the wheel, NDOT asks motorists to dial or log on before driving.

A newer “MY511NV” feature allows drivers to sign up to receive text or e-mail messages regarding roadway chain requirements, weather, incidents, events and construction on their most-traveled routes. To sign up, users simply log onto nvroads.com, select the “My511 NV” link and register to receive customized reports for state roads of their choice. The alerts are free, excluding text message fees imposed by individual phone carriers.

“We want to make every commute in Nevada as safe and smooth as possible,” NDOT Director Rudy Malfabon explained. “Our road maintenance crews dedicate more than 50,000 man hours every year in northwestern Nevada to helping keep winter roads clear. By providing motorists with road conditions and updates before they drive, our 511 system is another way we provide the smoothest and safest drive possible.”

Since 2006, the 511 service has received more than four million calls. In January and February 2017 alone, the system received more than 165,000 calls for road information. The corresponding nvroads.com website is also widely used, with approximately two million individual users since 2013 and 1.3 million visits in January and February 2017 alone.

The service is funded in part by revenues from NDOT’s roadside logo sign program.