textproduct: Reno

KEY MESSAGES

* Today will have mild temperatures with light winds.

* Strong high pressure will result in historic March warmth this week.

* Dry and mild weather is favored through next weekend, but a more unsettled pattern is possible for the final week of March.

DISCUSSION

* With the passage of yesterday's cold front, today's high temperatures will fall around 2-5 degrees. We'll have mostly 60s in western NV and mid to upper 50s for the eastern Sierra communities. These temperature readings are still 5-10 degrees above normal for mid-March. Winds will be less breezy today across the region, with gusts up to 30 mph on the ridgetops this afternoon. Outside of some high-level clouds, it's a nice day to get outdoors. * Confidence remains high for a historic March heat wave this week. The model ensembles are all showing that a very strong high pressure ridge will shift over the western U.S. Temperatures will peak between Tuesday through Friday, as daytime highs reach the low-mid 70s across Sierra valleys and mid-upper 80s in northeast CA and western NV valleys. Daily records are likely (>75%), as well as monthly high temperature records in Reno (currently at 83 degrees). Snowmelt will likely accelerate in response to this anomalous heat spell, maintaining cold and fast flows on area waterways. No precipitation is expected all week. * Long-term guidance starts to show the breakdown of this strong ridge by around March 23rd. At this time, there is low confidence in precipitation or winds. -McKellar

AVIATION

* VFR conditions are expected with overall light winds today through the upcoming week.

* For next week, record warm temperatures may result in density altitude issues for western Nevada terminals.

-McKellar

REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories

NV...None. CA...None.