weather service

A storm moving into the region will bring strong winds to the Sierra, Carson City and western Nevada areas today and overnight into Wednesday, with up to 18 inches of snow expected near the Sierra crest, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

Wind gusts today and tonight will approach 45 mph in valley locations with stronger gusts in wind prone areas. Ridge gusts will approach 80 mph.

Weather systems will move into the region this week, bringing much-needed rain to the valleys around Carson City and snow to Lake Tahoe and the Sierra, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

The first cold front will move eastward toward the west coast Tuesday and bring increasing winds to the Sierra and western Nevada. Wind gusts Tuesday and early Tuesday night will approach 45 mph in valley locations with locally stronger winds in wind prone areas. Ridge gusts will approach 100 mph.

Another winter storm is moving into the Sierra late tonight with heavy snow expected in the Sierra through Friday, especially south of Highway 50, according to the National Weather Service.

Low pressure will move into the Sierra late Thursday night and Friday bringing a period of rain and snow to western Nevada. The heaviest precipitation will occur in Douglas and southern Lyon counties Friday morning with rain and snow decreasing by the late afternoon.

A wet weather pattern will bring snow to the Sierra and rain to the western valleys and Carson City beginning Wednesday and persist into the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

The first of two storms will arrive late Wednesday afternoon and persist into Thursday morning. Snow amounts of 10 to 18 inches near the crest, 3 to 8 inches at Lake Tahoe level, and 2 to 4 inches along Highway 395 in Mono County will result in slick and hazardous road conditions. For lower valley floors, rain is expected and impacts will be minimal, according to the weather service.

The overall pattern will transition to favor wetter weather beginning Wednesday, with rain in Carson City and snow for Lake Tahoe and the Sierra, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

UPDATE: The southbound lane of I-580 through Washoe Valley was blocked this afternoon after a semi-truck overturned. Traffic is being diverted to Highway 395A at Bower's interchange, according to the Nevada Department of Transportation. Motorists are to take Highway 395A to the far south end of Washoe Valley and return to I-580 at Lake View Hill on ramp. The road should be clear by around 5 p.m.

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High winds have moved into Carson City this afternoon with reports of downed lines, toppled trees and flying debris.

A High Wind warning for the region has prompted the Carson City Sheriff's Office to increase patrol this weekend in preparation of the arriving storm system.

Because winds are expected to reach 70 to 80 mph from Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning, the potential exists for downed power lines, trees, large branches and other blowing debris, said Carson City Sheriff's Office Sgt. Scott McDaniel.

A strong Pacific jet stream approaching the west coast will bring periods of gusty winds to the eastern Sierra and western Nevada today through this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

The image on the left shows forecast wind gusts for Wednesday afternoon, with the strongest gusts expected in northeast California, northwest Nevada, and across Reno and Carson City where a Wind Advisory remains in effect until 7 p.m.

Rain and snow showers will be off and on this morning following a series of winter storms that brought several feet of snow to the Sierra and much-needed rainfall to Western Nevada.

Conditions should clear later today with warmer weather through Tuesday before the next storm system arrives Wednesday.

A series of winter storms working their way through the region will bring heavy rain to the valley areas of western Nevada and Carson City region through Sunday prompting the National Weather Service to issue a flood watch.

Snow levels are currently near 7,000 feet and are expected to rise to 8,000 to 8,500 feet by Saturday afternoon.

A wet pattern is expected into the weekend as a series of storms lined up in the Pacific should make it to the Sierra, Lake Tahoe and western Nevada, according to the National Weather Service.

The first storm is expected Thursday and will spread snow into the eastern Sierra with lighter snow near the valley floors of western Nevada. The heaviest snow is expected in the Sierra south of Interstate 80.

With snow showers overnight leaving a dusting on Carson City streets, this morning's commute has been mostly free of problems.

Carson City road crews were out early this morning with sanders getting roads prepared. Dispatch reports no major accidents in Carson City, however Reno has been experiencing a number of wrecks and spinouts, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol.

Snow and rain are on the way. The National Weather Service reports a "Atmospheric River" will bring up to two feet of snow to the Sierra and Western Nevada through the end of January. The valleys could get up to a half-inch of rain Thursday. A winter storm watch has been issued for the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Click to the video for more on the storms.

While we've enjoyed sunny skies and warm temperatures thus far this winter, the dry conditions are a concern among many, especially water surveyors and firefighters.

Bring in the small dogs and secure the lawn furniture, a cold front passing through the Sierra and western Nevada on Saturday will bring strong and gusty southwest winds to the Carson City region, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

Forecasters say the system will bring dangerous crosswinds along Interstates 80 and 580 as well as Highway 395 with travel likely impacted for high profile vehicles. A High Wind Warning has been issued by the weather service.

They may not pack much of a punch, but given persistent drought conditions, something is better than nothing. Two fast moving winter systems will impact the Sierra and western Nevada beginning today and into the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Weather-wise in Northern Nevada and the Sierra, 2013 will likely go down in the history books as a year of extremes in both drought, heat and quick bursts of rainfall, according to the National Weather Service in Reno. Here is a recap of the year.

Scattered freezing rain overnight, mainly north of Carson City and in the Sierra, has left some roads coated with black ice, the National Weather Service advises.

Pockets of black ice will melt off during the next few hours. Travelers along the Highway 395 corridor from Reno to Susanville and Highways 49 and 70 through the Sierra Valley should use caution while driving, especially on bridges and overpasses, the weather service states.

Layers of ice remaining on some of Carson City's side streets and walkways will see more snow added to them by Wednesday night and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Carson City could get anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of snow when another cold front approaching from the north will drop temperatures and flakes overnight Wednesday into early Thursday morning.

Drivers beware: Freezing fog is expected to be widespread Wednesday night into Thursday morning, expanding into the Carson City, Sierra and Reno-Sparks regions, according to the National Weather Service.

Snow cover and high pressure over western Nevada has trapped cold air in the valleys and produced strong valley inversions that will slowly worsen air quality as pollutants build in the western Nevada valleys, according to the National Weather Service, which has issued an Air Quality Alert for Carson City, Carson Valley and the Reno-Sparks area.

Icy, slippery roads but surprisingly very few reported accidents in Carson City this Saturday morning, according to Carson City Sheriff's Office dispatch.

Deputies patrolling the streets have come upon a number of spinouts, and a couple of fender benders but thus far no injury accidents as of 9:15 this morning, a dispatcher said.

What this latest storm lacks in significant snow depth for Carson City will be made up with bitter cold and wind.

That's the word from the National Weather Service as a winter storm was to barrel down in the region, bringing 2 to 4 inches of snow to Carson City, up to 6 inches above 5,000 feet followed by several days of single-digit low temperatures and day time highs that will struggle to reach 20.

A winter storm is headed for Carson City on Friday, but there's a good chance the weather event will happen after 8 p.m., missing the Silver and Snowflakes Festival of Lights at the Nevada State Capitol Building.

"It will be more than likely that people will be able to get out before it even starts," said National Weather Service Meteorologist Dawn Johnson. "It looks like the brunt of the impacts will happen overnight Friday night, with some snow beginning after 8 p.m., and the heaviest snow after midnight."

Tie down the lawn furniture, secure the small dogs and put a sweater on them while you're at it — a strong cold front will blow into the Carson City and Lake Tahoe region today with snow in the forecast by Tuesday morning.

A Wind Advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service for much of Northern Nevada as the front pushes through. Winds will be from the west to southwest, 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph in the western valleys and 60 mph in wind prone areas. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect until 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Enjoy the sunny, warm weather this weekend because a cool and downright cold change is on the way by late Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

Light winds with above average temperatures are expected through the holiday weekend, making for ideal conditions to bike and hike around Carson City, visit Virginia City or head to Lake Tahoe for skiing.

A weather system will move through the Carson City region beginning Tuesday, bringing rain to the valleys and snow to Lake Tahoe and the Sierra above 7,000 feet, according to the National Weather Service.

Snow amounts for the Sierra could be around a foot above 7,500 feet and 4 to 6 inches around 7,000 feet, said National Weather Service meteorologist Jim Wallmann.

The potential for snow accumulation will be greatest in the Lake Tahoe area above 7,000 feet with lower totals south in Alpine and Mono counties.

After a week of above normal temperatures, conditions in Carson City, Lyon and Douglas counties are in motion to change some by the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Above normal temperatures are expected again on Thursday with western Nevada warming into the low to mid 60s and upper 50s across Sierra valleys.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California and the Sierra. This report is for the week of Nov. 13. Friday, Nov. 15 is the last day to fish in most California waterways. Go here to learn more. Opening day for California fishing is the last Saturday in April.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California and the Sierra. This report is for the week of Nov. 6-12.