textproduct: Reno

KEY MESSAGES

* Temperatures remain well above seasonal averages today, then cool off by 10-15 degrees Thursday before warming up again for the weekend.

* Winds will increase this afternoon and evening, producing choppy lake waters and isolated travel impacts.

* A shift to a cooler and wetter pattern with stronger winds arrives next week, with increased chances of below average temperatures by the start of April.

DISCUSSION

The upper ridge that has brought this prolonged streak of record March heat will give way to a shortwave trough passage across the Pacific NW today. Winds pick up this afternoon ahead of a dry cold front passage across northeast CA and western NV, with gusts up to 35 mph producing choppy lake conditions mainly for Pyramid Lake and Lahontan/Rye Patch reservoirs, where Lake Wind Advisories remain in effect. Temperatures start to ease downward from the record-setting levels of the prior 8 days, but highs remain 15-20 degrees above late March averages.

After tonight's cold front passage, Thursday will feature breezy north-northeast winds (gusts 20-30 mph) and noticeably cooler temperatures (mainly in the 60s) that bring a definite end to the streak of record highs. With a thicker swath of cirrus spreading overhead, it will be the most "March-like" day since the first week of the month. Friday will have similar cloud cover as Thursday, but with lighter winds and warming up by 5-10 degrees.

For this weekend, we'll see one more reprise of unseasonable warmth with highs again near or above 80 degrees for lower elevations. Daily records could return especially on Saturday, which has more reachable record highs (76 for Reno and 66 for South Lake Tahoe). Zephyr-type breezes (gusts 20-25 mph) are also anticipated for both days.

Next week continues to show increased confidence for the Pacific storm door reopening across the Sierra and western NV. The first storm could arrive as soon as Monday afternoon-night with rain showers mainly limited to northeast CA/far northwest NV and northern Sierra with snow levels between 7000-8000 feet, and increased winds regionwide. The storm potential increases further from Tuesday through Thursday, bringing additional rounds of accumulating mountain snow, valley rain and periods of gusty- strong winds. More aggressive/colder scenarios even bring snow chances to far western NV valleys by next Wednesday night or Thursday. So for anyone who thought we were done with winter weather this season--it is looking more like "April Fool"! MJD

AVIATION

* VFR conditions will continue through the weekend, although mountain wave turbulence and isolated LLWS returns today, mainly between 18Z-03Z. FL100 wind gusts range from 35-45 kt, with mainly west surface gusts 25-30 kt this afternoon-early evening at the main terminals, except a bit lower for the Tahoe area sites.

* Winds on Thursday will shift to NE-E at the main terminals with gusts 15-20 kt for western NV sites, and a brief period of increased ridgetop/FL100 gusts to 35 kt around the Tahoe region. These winds could produce areas of turbulence near and west of the Sierra crest. MJD

CLIMATE

The heat keeps marching on for both Reno and South Lake Tahoe, with the streak of new or tied record highs now at 8 straight days. This streak may end as soon as today (chance of at least a tied record high has dropped below 40%), but certainly ending on Thursday. However, more daily record highs are within reach at both sites 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 82F (old 80F in 2022)72F (old 65F in 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 48F (old 45F in 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.