Warmer weather on the Memorial Day horizon

Virginia City bore the brunt of thunderstorms on the leading edge of a weather system that is bringing cooler local temperatures for the end of the week.

Tuesday and Wednesday were the most active days for the Carson City area. Dry, sunny weather is expected for the Memorial Day weekend.

According to the National Weather Service, Virginia City received 1.05 inches of rain in Tuesday's storm.

Joe Curtis, volunteer fire chief with the Storey County Fire Department, said the city had some minor flash flooding with rock and debris scattered into the streets. Contrary to some reports, he said there was no hail with the storm.

"It was probably the most rain I've seen," Curtis said. "I think I've seen it rain like that once before in my lifetime."

Curtis said three transformers were hit by lightning in the storm, causing power outages.

"We were pounded," he said. "Literally, had it not been for the moisture, we would have been chasing fires today."

The rainfall set a new record for rain received on a May 23 in Virginia City, breaking a .66 inch record set in 1996, said Jim Ashby of the Western Regional Climate Center.

Carson City received .4 inches of rain in the storm, and Minden received .36 inches, said meteorologist Bob Melrose.

The low pressure system that brought the thunderstorm, rain and wind will hold temperatures today in the high 70s, Melrose said.

Carson City is expected to reach 78 degrees today, Minden 79, Virginia City 73 and the upper 60s for the Lake Tahoe basin. Morning lows will be in the low 50s, Melrose said. Friday will bring warmer temperatures in the low- to mid-80s, Melrose said. Weekend temperatures could rise near 90.