Weather Alert

According to the National Weather Service, father winter must have been given a bonus this year because more snow is scheduled to fall in the mountains, and thunderstorms are expected throughout the region, prompting a special weather alert announcement warning to take precautions if out on any bodies of water.

UPDATE: 4:45PM: At 4:05 p.m. Saturday, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10 miles southwest of Gardnerville, moving north at 10 mph. Dime size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Brief heavy rain is also possible with this storm. Outflow winds could reach as far northwest as South Lake Tahoe.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.
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Thunderstorms will develop across the region over the next few hours with a few strong thunderstorms likely by mid-afternoon, according to a report from the National Weather Service in Reno.

UPDATE 7:14PM: The Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center (SFIDC) is now reporting the Little Valley to be 55 percent contained, having burned 3,400 acres and destroyed 22 homes and 17 outbuildings since early Friday morning.
More than 660 firefighting personnel remain on scene, the SFIDC reports.
More rain is forecast Sunday night into Monday morning, which should further help firefighting efforts to achieve full containment of the Little Valley Fire.
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UPDATE 3:52PM: From South Lake Tahoe, Highway 89 continues to be closed from just beyond the Spring Creek Tract to the Vikingsholm parking lot gate (north side of Emerald Bay) because of the Emerald Fire, which is still 90 percent contained.
As of 3 p.m. Sunday, evacuations have been lifted for Cathedral Road, Springs Creek Tract, Camp Shelly, Camp Concord and Mount Tallac Road.
Cascade Lake and Cascade Properties are currently open to residents only.
In Washoe Valley, Franktown Road continues to be closed below the 6190 street address, because of the Little Valley Fire, which remains at 20 percent contained.
Although Old U.S. Highway 395A has been opened, Washoe County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) is asking the public to stay out of the area due to fire traffic, localized flooding from heavy rains and unstable ground from the burn areas.
Interstate 580 is open in both directions to traffic.
Public safety officials said at a 1 p.m. briefing that a re-entry plan has been established, but it will require coordination with fire management personnel, law enforcement, and utility companies before the area can be re-populated safely.
The re-entry plan called for some residents to be allowed back in Monday or Tuesday to survey their properities only. Officials are hopeful re-entry can begin Wednesday.
WCSO will contact displaced residents directly in order to visit their homes.
Fuji Park in Carson City remain open for evacuated residents with large livestock.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the Greater Lake Tahoe region. Remaining in effect until 10pm tonight, expect heavy snow through 7pm with accumulations reaching two to three inches per hour in some areas. The forecast is is calling for 12 to 20 inches of snow above 7000 feet, and 8-12 inches below (Carson City is listed at an elevation of 4,802 feet.

The National Weather Service in Reno has implemented a weather text alert system for smart phones. A number of Carson Now readers have said they've gotten text message alerts already, the first being a dust storm from Monday. Here's the skinny: