textproduct: Reno

KEY MESSAGES

* Unseasonably mild and dry through the weekend, then slight cooling and breezy winds Sat-Sun with a weak cold front.

* Record temperatures are expected for much of next week as a remarkably strong area of high pressure develops over the West. * Longer range outlooks strongly favor dry and warm conditions going through at least the third week of March.

DISCUSSION

Unseasonably mild and dry weather continues through the weekend with high temperatures this afternoon once again expected to reach nearly 15F above average with mid-70s across W.Nevada and mid 60s for Sierra valleys.

However, temperatures will cool 3-6 degrees on Saturday and Sunday as cold front brushes across northern Nevada. Breezy northwest winds will accompany the front with gusts of 20-30 mph mainly north of I-80 Saturday afternoon before weakening and becoming northeast to east by Sunday. Only a 15-20% chance for light showers across the Surprise Valley in E.Modoc Saturday afternoon.

The main story then turns to the very high likelihood of record temperatures through much of next week as a remarkably strong upper-level ridge builds across the West. W.Nevada valleys will warm into the low-mid 80s with Sierra valleys seeing low-mid 70s. These high temperatures are more typical of early to mid June or about 20-25F above average for mid-March.

Daily high temperatures will likely be broken during the Monday- Saturday timeframe next week with Tuesday-Thursday being targeted as the warmest days of the week. Our current forecasted high temperatures Tuesday-Thursday for Reno would break the all-time record for the warmest March day on record which is currently 83F which was set on March 31, 1966. Overall multiple daily records and consecutive 80 degree day records will all be on the table next week with this unprecedented ridge set-up. Aside from the warmth, there are no real prospects for precipitation in the next 7-10 days. Fuentes

AVIATION

Widespread VFR conditions will prevail through next week with breezy winds each afternoon into the weekend. Winds peak on Saturday with N/NW gusts of 20-25 kts.

For next week, well above normal temperatures will likely present density altitude concerns for western Nevada terminals.

-Salas/Fuentes

REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories

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