textproduct: Reno

KEY MESSAGES

* Warm and dry this weekend with breezy winds and a slight chance of light rain near the Oregon border on Saturday.

* Record-breaking warmth is expected next week as strong high pressure develops over the region.

* Dry conditions is favored to last through the third week of March, but there are signs of wetter weather after the 23rd.

DISCUSSION

While the weather will continue to be dry and unseasonably warm through the weekend, a cold frontal passage will provide minor cooling and breezy winds over the weekend. Saturday in particular will be the windiest day as a swath of 25-35 mph N/NW gusts will be common from NE California and N Washoe County, to the W NV Basin and Range, and into Mineral/S. Mono counties. Be prepared for gusty crosswinds along parts of I-80 and US-50, and choppy waters on Pyramid and Walker lakes. Farther west, winds will still be breezy Saturday afternoon but on the order of 15-25 mph. This cold front will certainly trend on the drier side, but a few light rain showers cannot be ruled out near the Oregon border (15-20% odds).

Record-breaking warmth remains on track next week as strong high pressure overspreads the western states. In response, daytime highs will be in the 70s and 80s after Monday, which would be 20-25F above seasonal averages or more typical or early June. Such temperatures would easily set new daily high temperature records, and may even set Reno's all-time March record for warmest day if KRNO exceeds 83F. While these temperatures are certainly not extreme, be sure to stay hydrated and avoid cooling off in area waterways, which will be running fast and cold as our snowpack continues to melt.

This ridging pattern will also keep the region dry through at least next week, if not longer. However, there are some hints of precipitation showing up around/after the 23rd, so something to keep an eye on.

-Salas

AVIATION

The main weather concern through the weekend will be arrival of breezy N/NW gusts of 15-25 kts Saturday afternoon, which may pose LLWS impacts to regional terminals -- especially at KNFL-KLOL-KHTH where gusts may reach up to 30 kts at times. Otherwise, expect VFR conditions to prevail over the next 7-10 days.

Density altitude issues may arise next week at western Nevada terminals as temperatures warm to 20-25F above normal.

-Salas

REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories

NV...Lake Wind Advisory from 2 PM to 11 PM PDT Saturday NVZ001-004.

CA...None.