textproduct: Reno

KEY MESSAGES

* Temperatures remain well above seasonal averages for much of this week, with the more chances for daily record highs today.

* Afternoon breezes will increase through Wednesday, with choppy lake waters and travel impacts possible.

* A shift to a cooler and wetter pattern begins next week.

DISCUSSION

The ridging pattern that has served up recent record-shattering heat since March 17th is still persisting, at least through the weekend. We may see yet another record set today as this ridge sticks around. The center of the ridge is migrating to the skies over the Rio Grande River, bringing a streak of hot weather to Texas, and stretching north into the Central Plains. As the ridge slides ever- so-slightly to the east, it puts our region under a tightening gradient at the periphery of the high pressure dome. What this translates to at the surface will be increasing winds today and Wednesday, with gusts to 40 mph possible over Pyramid Lake, Lahontan and Rye Patch Reservoirs. This has prompted a Lake Wind Advisory for Wednesday over the aforementioned bodies of water. Thursday will be marked by breezy north-northeast winds that will usher in cooler temperatures that will feel noticeable in contrast to the recent heat across the region. Clouds will build in across western Nevada and northeastern California skies, limiting solar heating. The same cloud cover will be in place as the sun rises on Friday, but Friday will feature a minor increase in temperatures.

For the weekend we have a warmup on the horizon again. This will bring a resurgence of 80s back to the Basin and Range, with upper 70s for the leeside valleys. For the Sierra valleys, we can look forward to one more weekend of upper 60s to mid 70s. We can also plan on afternoon breezes to pick up each weekend day.

Next week, a continually eastward march of the ridge will allow the progression of a system that will bring some shower chances, cooler temperatures (in some guidance, a significant difference on the way) and gusty winds. Details of these features are less obvious at this time, but in the coming days we will watch and report what we find. At this time, confidence is increasing for this pattern change to take hold over the region. HRICH

AVIATION

* VFR conditions will continue through the weekend, although mountain wave turbulence and LLWS will continue through Wednesday. The hours of the day LLWS and turbulence will be most pronounced will be during the 18z-03z timeframe. This will feature FL100 gusts ranging 35 to 45 kts. Surface winds will range 20 to 30 kts through Wednesday.

* Fog formation at KTRK will be limited by nearby cirrus clouds through the rest of the week into the weekend, although a 20% exists. HRICH

CLIMATE

The heat keeps marching on for both Reno and South Lake Tahoe, with the streak of new or tied record highs now at 7 straight days, which is itself, a record for days in a row of records. While the monthly records set last week won't be challenged this week, more daily record highs are within reach at both sites mainly today and also for this weekend.

New daily record high temperatures and the previous daily record high temperatures for Reno and South Lake Tahoe:

Date Reno NV South Lake Tahoe CA ---- ------------ ------------------- 3/17 82F (old 78F in 2007) 69F (old 65F in 2007) 3/18 86F (old 77F in 1947) 76F (old 63F in 2004) 3/19 85F (old 77F in 1997) 72F (old 65F in 2015) 3/20 88F (old 81F in 2004) 72F (old 68F in 1997) 3/21 81F (old 80F in 2004) 70F (old 68F in 1997) 3/22 77F (tied with 2004)69F (old 65F in 2004) 3/23 78F (old 77F in 2022)66F (tied with 2022) 3/24 80F - 202265F - 2022 3/25 81F - 202267F - 2022 -------------------------------------------------------

New daily record warmest low temperatures and the previous daily record warmest low temperatures for Reno and South Lake Tahoe:

Date Reno NV South Lake Tahoe CA ---- ------------ ------------------- 3/18 48F - 1904 37F - 2021 3/19 46F - 2013 38F - 2013 3/20 47F - 2013 35F - 2013 3/21 50F (old 46F in 2015) 38F - 1972 3/22 50F - 2012 40F - 2012 3/23 51F (old 46F in 2000) 41F (old 40F in 1998) 3/24 45F - 2006 40F - 1986 3/25 52F - 1893 38F - 2008

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* New March monthly record high at Reno:

- Reno, NV: New record of 88F on Friday March 20. The previous monthly record was 86F on 3/18/2026.

* New March monthly record high at South Lake Tahoe:

- South Lake Tahoe, CA: New record of 76F on Wednesday March 18. The previous monthly record was 71F on 3/30/2015.

REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories

NV...Lake Wind Advisory from 2 PM to 11 PM PDT Wednesday NVZ004.

CA...None.