textproduct: Reno

KEY MESSAGES

* Gusty north winds with localized areas of blowing dust this afternoon after passage of a cold front.

* Sub-freezing temperatures will pose impacts to agriculture and irrigation Thursday night into Friday morning.

* Unsettled weather returns Sunday into early next week with renewed chances of gusty winds and showers.

DISCUSSION

A low pressure system is currently cycling over the Pacific Northwest, helping drive a cold front from northeastern Oregon into northcentral Nevada. Precip associated with this cold front, as seen on radar, has been relatively light so far. The best chances for precip (20-50%), which will be of the snow variety, will be in Pershing county early morning. While chances for accumulating snow have dropped below 10%, expect slick roads along I-80 past Fernley this morning.

Brisk northerly winds may bring patches of blowing dust and reduced visibilities for the Basin and Range, south of Lovelock, today. Wind gusts will be strongest (35 to 45 mph) in Mineral county near Walker Lake and along US-6 in Mono county. Otherwise, typical afternoon breezes for the Sierra and Sierra Front. It'll be much colder today, though, with highs in the mid to low 50s for valleys and upper 40s for Sierra communities.

Friday morning will be very cold areawide, with overnight lows dropping into the 20s. As such, the Freeze Watch has been upgraded to a Freeze Warning for NE CA, the Sierra Front, N Washoe county, the Surprise Valley, and W NV Basin and Range. Please see the product for details on the range of low temperatures expected. Take the time today to protect pipes and sensitive plants. Clearing skies may also allow for patches of freezing fog Friday morning, especially around agricultural areas and areas of low- lying water, though confidence remains low.

A pleasant weekend is in store, with another weather system poised to bring impacts by late Sunday. Model guidance continues to fluctuate on the timing and placement of the low pressure system. However, expect an uptick in winds Sunday and through Tuesday, with precipitation chances returning by Monday afternoon.

-Giralte

AVIATION

LLWS is expected to subside by sunrise this morning for all terminals due to the passage of the cold front to our north. VFR conditions are expected for all terminals today. The only exception may be KTRK where patchy FZFG could develop after 06Z, bringing localized LIFR/IFR conditions.

-Giralte

REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories

NV...Freeze Warning from 11 PM this evening to 8 AM PDT Friday NVZ001- 003>005.

CA...Freeze Warning from 11 PM this evening to 8 AM PDT Friday CAZ070- 071.