textproduct: Elko

KEY MESSAGES

* Unseasonably warm today and Friday

* Strong, gusty winds Saturday

* Turning cooler this weekend

* Near freezing temperatures in the coldest valleys of Northern and Central Nevada Sunday night

DISCUSSION

(Today through Wednesday)

WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW: Calm weather conditions expected to continue over the next several days with unseasonably warm temperatures today and Friday, as highs reach several degrees above normal. Over the weekend, a low pressure system will move into the northwestern CONUS, which will tighten surface pressure gradients, increasing winds Saturday. Winds on Saturday are expected to be up to 20-25 mph sustained and gusts up to 45 mph. A Fire Weather Watch remains in effect for all zones Saturday as minimum relative humidity values will drop to as low as 9 percent Saturday afternoon. The low pressure system will also drag much cooler air into Nevada with highs reaching to near normal Saturday, then dropping to several degrees below normal Sunday. Into the next week, temperatures will slightly warm but expected to stay around normal with light winds.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE & DEVIATIONS: High confidence regarding unseasonably warm temperatures today and Friday. Moderate confidence in strong, gusty winds and cooler temperatures over the weekend. No changes to NBM grids at this time.

AVIATION

Look for VFR conditions across all terminals over the next 24 hour period.

FIRE WEATHER

A Fire Weather Watch is in effect throughout Northern and Central Nevada from 11 AM PDT Saturday morning until 8 PM PDT Saturday evening due to southwest wind gusts near 45 mph and minimum relative humidity values as low as 9 percent. A cooling trend is expected this weekend. By Sunday afternoon, high temperatures will be around five degrees below normal for this time of year.

LKN Watches/Warnings/Advisories

Fire Weather Watch 18Z Saturday until 9Z Sunday for zones 424, 425, 426, 427, 437, 438, 469, and 470.