textproduct: Elko

KEY MESSAGES

* Unseasonably warm afternoons today and tomorrow.

* Strong wind gusts in Central and Northern Nevada Friday.

* Chance of valley rain and mountain snow Friday evening through Saturday morning.

* Periods of valley rain and mountain snow Monday through Tuesday morning.

DISCUSSION

(Today through next Wednesday)

WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW: Upper level ridging over the southwestern CONUS continues to keep warm dry conditions over Nevada with high temperatures expected to stay several degrees above normal today and tomorrow.

Friday, a series of upper level troughs will move across the western coast with a small system pushing south ahead of a much larger system to the northwest. The smaller system will push the upper ridge east and bring in southwesterly flow over Nevada as it moves into California. Weather gradients will tighten over the silver state which will bring in stronger winds Friday afternoon with wind speeds up to 20-25 mph, gusts as high as 35-45 mph. By Friday evening, the second larger trough will push in moisture, increasing chances for isolated showers and mountain snow across northern and central Nevada that is expected to last through Saturday morning. Greatest probabilities for snow will be in central Nevada with snow levels dropping between 6000-7000 feet overnight, accumulating onto higher passes and summits along the US-50 corridor. Here are probabilities of summits and passes receiving one inch of snow or more in 24 hours:

Austin Summit - 90% Bob Scotts Summit - 85% Garden Pass - 85% Pinto Summit - 20% Connors Pass - 45% Murry Summit - 80% Robinson Summit - 55% Emigrant Pass - 40%

Saturday afternoon through Sunday, a brief lull in the weather with calmer conditions and lighter winds expected with cooler temperatures being near or a few degrees below normal prior to the next storm system on Monday. A third upper level trough from the northwest will move into the western CONUS on Monday that will bring increasing chances for periods of precipitation and mountain snow that is expected to last through Tuesday morning. Snow levels expected to start around 6500-7000 feet and drop to as low as 4500-5000 feet overnight as much cooler temperatures move in late Monday. Highs on Tuesday expected to be several degrees below normal with some areas reaching up to 10 degrees below normal.

AVIATION

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

LKN Watches/Warnings/Advisories

None.