textproduct: Reno

KEY MESSAGES

* Ongoing Pacific storm starts to wrap up around midday today with decreasing rain and snow showers this afternoon.

* Following a lull in the rain and snow this afternoon into Saturday, widespread precipitation returns for Saturday and Sunday.

* A colder storm arrives Monday, with potential for additional rain and Sierra snow, breezy winds, and colder temperatures.

DISCUSSION

Preliminary liquid precipitation reports range from around an inch in the upper terrain to near 0.25 inches in far western NV valleys along the Sierra Front. Rain totals drop off considerably east of Highway 395 with less than 0.05 inches reported in the Basin and Range so far. A couple stronger bands associated with the cold front passage allowed precipitation to outmaneuver the defense of the Sierra and bring a decent bout of wetting rains. Snow levels (as of 1AM) have been hovering above 8000 feet and several regional webcams are showing snow at higher elevation Sierra sites in the Tahoe Basin.

Rain and high elevation snow will persist through midday today before dissipating later this afternoon. Snow levels will stay above 8000 feet with most accumulating snowfall at the highest Sierra peaks/elevations. Be aware of travel impacts through the higher mountain passes in Mono and Alpine counties (i.e. Ebbetts, Sonora, Tioga). For the Tahoe passes (i.e., Donner, Carson, Echo) there should be mainly rain/wet roads through today. Wet roads are still incredibly slick so be sure to slow down and allow increased braking distance during this inclement conditions.

Plan on decreasing shower coverage from north to south by midday today, although showers may persist in the Eastern Sierra as the upper low wobbles eastward and wraps northward again by Saturday. This will result in a renewed precipitation effort Saturday with additional rain and snow chances. We will see a transition in the snow levels from around 9000 feet down to near 6500-7000 feet by Sunday night as the cold core of the upper low finally advances across the Eastern Sierra and western Nevada. Impacts should remain largely confined to the highest Sierra passes with the repeat visit of the low. Meanwhile, the trajectory of the precipitation will promote widespread wetting rain potential for areas along and south of Interstate 80 on Saturday with a northward progression for most areas in NE CA and NW NV on Sunday.

The stormy, active weather pattern sticks around for early next week as we're dialing in on another storm for Monday. This colder storm has the potential to advance into the region with lower snow levels, but it will be TBD for now as the storm tracks have been finicky. Plan on noticeably colder conditions (highs closer to January normals) and low temperatures dipping into the sub-freezing category for Monday and Tuesday nights.

-Edan

AVIATION

Winds: Surface wind gusts have also dissipated rapidly with the onset of rain at most terminals. FL100 winds will continue to taper through 12z Friday, but remain southerly. With the stronger winds aloft through early Friday there may still be remnant LLWS impacts. Otherwise, surface winds will remain light.

Precipitation: Periods of MVFR to occasional IFR conditions and mountain obscuration will persist at KTRK-KTVL-KMMH through 18z Friday. Residual light showers may reduce CIGS/VIS to MVFR conditions at KRNO-KCXP-KMEV. Precipitation will back off after 18z Friday with improved flight conditions into Saturday morning before another round of showers arrives.

-Edan

REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories

NV...Winter Weather Advisory until noon PST today NVZ002.

CA...Winter Weather Advisory until noon PST today CAZ072.

Winter Storm Warning until 4 PM PST this afternoon CAZ073.