textproduct: Reno

KEY MESSAGES

* Gusty winds bring aviation and recreation impacts through Wednesday morning.

* Rain, snow, pellet showers, and a few thunderstorms into Thursday with snow levels as low as 5000 feet Wednesday. Snow may impact travel over mountain passes.

* Cooler conditions through Thursday with afternoon highs in the 40s and 50s for Wednesday. Temperatures in the 70s and 80s return this weekend.

DISCUSSION

A cold, for May standards, weather system moving into northern Nevada today is forecast to remain over the area into Thursday. Gusty winds will diminish north of US-50, but linger into early Wednesday south of US-50.

Snow is falling below 6000 feet as of this morning based on web cams around Lassen and Plumas Counties. Main issue is an area of precipitation that is forecast to develop on the east and north sides of the low pressure system tonight and Wednesday. If the precipitation is steady, snow has a chance to stick to paved surfaces overnight and Wednesday morning when snow levels dip to 5000-6000 feet.

The precipitation band develops over central NV this afternoon with rain and snow for eastern Pershing/Churchill counties including the Quartz Fire and the US-50 and NV-722 passes between Churchill and Lander Counties. The band pivots towards Gerlach, Pyramid Lake, and Plumas/Lassen Counties this evening, and clipping the Reno-Tahoe area early Wednesday morning. Liquid totals of 0.50" or more have a 50-70% chance of occurring by Wednesday morning, yielding 2-4 inches of snow accumulation in the mountains.

The passes around Tahoe may get clipped by the band, so plan on slick/wet/slushy roads Wednesday morning. The Eastern Sierra will have to wait for the shower activity to develop Wednesday with snow accumulations as much as 2 inches for the High Sierra mountain passes.

Thunderstorms could get strong Wednesday afternoon but any location has equal chances (20-30%) as the low wobbles overhead. The cool temperatures will limit strong outflow winds, leaving lightning, accumulating hail, and heavy downpours as the primary threats.

The low drifts away Thursday, allowing temperatures to warm back into the 70s and low 80s for Friday and the weekend. However shower and thunderstorm chances remain in place north of US-50 as another low pressure systems reaches the west coast. Brong

AVIATION

Low pressure and a cold front moving into the region today with LLWS and mountain wave turbulence. Winds diminish Wednesday. Rain, snow, and snow pellet showers, and thunderstorms persist into Thursday with periods MVFR ceilings and mountain obscurements. Freezing levels fall to near 6000 feet tonight and Wednesday, which could bring snow and lowered CIGs to KTRK, KTVL, and KMMH. Brong

FIRE WEATHER

Increasing moisture, cooler temperatures, and rain/snow showers will decrease fire weather impacts. Quartz Fire is forecast to receive a wetting this evening and overnight.

Gusty winds continue today but decrease north of US-50 this afternoon. One area to watch is Mineral County and southern Mono County, where winds will remain gusty and moisture doesn't increase there until Wednesday. Brong

REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories

NV...Lake Wind Advisory until 2 PM PDT this afternoon NVZ002.

Lake Wind Advisory until 5 PM PDT this afternoon NVZ003.

Lake Wind Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to 5 AM PDT Wednesday NVZ001.

Lake Wind Advisory until 11 AM PDT Wednesday NVZ004.

CA...Lake Wind Advisory until 2 PM PDT this afternoon CAZ072.

Lake Wind Advisory until 5 PM PDT this afternoon CAZ073.