textproduct: Reno

KEY MESSAGES

* The first of a set of cold fronts arrives today, bringing chilly northerly gusts and temperatures 10 degrees below average. * The secondary front will arrive for Sunday, reinforcing the gusty northerly winds and dropping temperatures another 10 degrees below average.

* A warming and drying trend emerges after Monday, with temperatures rebounding to above average by midweek.

DISCUSSION

Today will feel starkly cooler than previous days, with a gusty northerly wind ushering the cold temperatures. Highs today will range the mid to upper 60s for the Sierra valleys and lower 70s to upper 60s across western Nevada valleys. This will signal the arrival of the first of two cold fronts to impact the region this weekend. Overnight lows will enter sub-freezing territory for the Sierra valleys while western Nevada and northeastern California see lows dropping to mid 30s to near 40.

The cooling trend continues Sunday, dropping the daytime highs to feeling more like early April than mid May. Sierra communities will climb into the 50s to near 60 and northeastern CA and western NV will range the upper 50s to low 60s. Sunday night into early Monday morning, expect widespread freezing temperatures for the Sierra valleys. Elsewhere, some valleys along the Sierra Front may also tumble toward freezing. Cold valleys across the western Nevada Basin and Range could also see some temperatures around 32 degrees or lower. Anyone with sensitive vegetation in these areas should take precautions to protect sensitive plants. The Reno, Carson City and Minden area could see temperatures tumble to the 30s, but should remain above the freezing mark.

Additionally for Sunday, increasing northerly gusts will become northeasterly, with widespread 40-70% chances of gusts exceeding 40 mph Sunday night. The greatest chances for the higher gusts will be across Mono, Alpine and Mineral counties, with lesser chances across northwestern Nevada and northeastern California. The main impacts from the winds may be blowing dust downwind of desert sinks and dry lake beds that could bring reduced visibility, hazardous crosswinds for vehicles, bumpy flights and choppy lake waters. For this reason, several Lake Wind Advisories and a Wind Advisory have been issued over this weekend.

Finally, Sunday may also bring showers to western Nevada, with some recent guidance hinting at showers over Alpine and northern Mono counties. The shower chances to the west of US-95 and south of US-50 will be more isolated in nature, with lower chances (~10%). Shower chances are greatest (20-70%, higher further to the east) east of US-95, and out over the Basin and Range, with potential for snow above 5000 feet.

By Monday we will resume a warming and drying trend, with 80s across western Nevada and upper 70s to 80s for northeastern CA into the Sierra returning by Wednesday. Model guidance hints at showers making a comeback next weekend, although confidence is low at this time. HRICH

AVIATION

* Northerly winds will develop this morning, with gusts reaching 25 kts today.

* Winds will continue to increase Sunday, especially Sunday afternoon and evening, with northeasterly gusts reaching up to 45 kts, especially near KHTH. Blowing dust may reduce visibilities near KNFL, KLOL, KHTH. Rain shower chances will be best east of KLOL-KNFL, with snow chances above 5000 feet possible. Chances will range 10-20%. HRICH

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 this afternoon to 11 AM PDT Sunday NVZ001.

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

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

CA...Lake Wind Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon 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.