textproduct: Reno

KEY MESSAGES

* Warm, above-average temperatures this afternoon. Typical westerly breezes with low humidity and poor overnight RH recovery continues across W.Nevada mid-slopes.

* A series of cold fronts will bring 10-20 degrees of cooling over the weekend with gusty north winds and chances for light showers along the front on Sunday.

* A warming trend will bring a return of above average temperatures for the middle of next week.

DISCUSSION

One more day of warm, above average temperatures is expected this afternoon before a series of cold fronts bring gusty northerly winds and a temperature drop of about 20 degrees by Sunday.

For this afternoon, expect dry and warm conditions, with highs reaching the lower 80s and the low 70s in Sierra valleys. A very dry air mass remains in place, with afternoon relative humidity dropping into the lower teens and even single digits. Another night of poor overnight RH recovery is expected (below 30%), mainly along mid-slopes across the western Nevada Basin and Range.

A series of cold fronts is still on track to provide significant cooling over the weekend along with gusty winds. Highs drop to near average Saturday (low 70s western Nevada, mid-60s Sierra), then fall another 10 degrees Sunday (near 60 for western Nevada, mid-50s Sierra).

Sustained winds strengthen from the northwest at 15-20 mph Saturday, shifting north to northeast at 15-25 mph Sunday, with a 60-70% chance of gusts up to 40 mph for areas mainly south of US-50. Areas across S.Lyon and Mineral counties could encounter stronger sustained northwest-north winds around 25-35 mph on Sunday. As such, a wind advisory has been issued for these areas on Sunday.

These winds may generate blowing dust downwind of desert sinks, which may reduce visibility along parts of US-50 in Churchill County into Mineral and southern Lyon Counties. Additional impacts include difficult crosswinds for high-profile vehicles, aviation turbulence, and hazardous boating conditions. Lake wind advisories have also been issued for area lakes for both Saturday and Sunday due to the expected winds.

A band of showers (10-20% chance) may accompany the main cold front Sunday morning, with light snow showers possible above 5500-6000 ft. Conditions turn drier and warmer early next week as the trough exits and high pressure builds, with highs returning to the 70s and 80s by Wednesday. Fuentes

AVIATION

VFR conditions will prevail through the weekend but with increasing winds Saturday into Sunday as as series of mostly dry cold fronts push through the region. Expect afternoon westerly afternoon wind gusts around 20kts this afternoon.

Winds will begin to shift northerly on Saturday with gusts to around 25 kts Saturday and up to 45 kts near KHTH on Sunday. Blowing dust may reduce surface visibilities on Sunday over KNFL, KLOL, and KHTH. Rain and snow shower chances will be greatest Sunday(10-20% chance), with the best opportunity generally east of KLOL-KNFL. HRICH/Fuentes

REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories

NV...Lake Wind Advisory from 5 PM Sunday to 5 AM PDT Monday NVZ002.

Lake Wind Advisory from 11 AM to 11 PM PDT Sunday NVZ003.

Lake Wind Advisory from 2 PM Saturday to 11 AM PDT Sunday NVZ001.

Wind Advisory from 11 AM to 11 PM PDT Sunday NVZ001.

Lake Wind Advisory from 2 PM Saturday to 5 PM PDT Sunday NVZ004.

CA...Lake Wind Advisory from 2 PM Saturday to 11 PM PDT Sunday CAZ071.

Lake Wind Advisory from 5 PM Sunday to 5 AM PDT Monday CAZ072.

Lake Wind Advisory from 11 AM to 11 PM PDT Sunday CAZ073.