One more storm ... and then spring has sprung

By Andrew Pridgen

Appeal Staff Writer

Old Man Winter's death rattle will echo off the Sierra peaks tonight as a cold front from the Gulf of Alaska will bring what portends to be the fateful (for the hopeful) last storm of winter.

"Well, that's the million-dollar question," said meteorologist Scott McGuire on Monday, "will this be the last storm?

"People who've lived here a long time know as soon as you think winter's called it quits, a month later there's crazy weather. That being said, this looks like it's it."

Indeed, winter, which came early to Northern Nevada this year, seemed to screech to a halt the last week of February - leaving the region to its driest March in two decades.

Water levels are holding steady at about 90 percent of an average year, according the Natural Resources Conservation Services office in Reno.

"My understanding is there's enough (water) in Tahoe to make up deficiencies in the Truckee system," said Dan Greenlee, a hydrologist for the NRCS said earlier this month. "In the Carson system, there's not a whole lot upstream. Lahontan Reservoir will probably not have enough to meet the (water) needs in Fallon."

With a chance of snow flurries at lake level and a bit of rain to match in the Carson Valley, temperatures dropping to the low-20s at night is probably going to be the only lasting impression today's system will make, meteorologists said.

"You want the real story?" McGuire said. "It's that things are going to warm up quickly. By Thursday, there's a ridge of high-pressure coming in which will produce the nicest weather so far this weekend. That's the main storyline."

McGuire's advice:

"Bundle up the next day or two, but dust off your running shoes and clean off your bikes because this is when spring takes hold."

Carson residents have been doing just that, it seems.

Monday at the Carson City Fleet Feet store, customers were seemingly shedding their collective winter skins in favor of new trail shoes, wet suits and cycling shorts.

"Our business has doubled since March 1 and we're getting in new people all the time," said Joy Keith, who has owned the store with husband, Scott, since June of last year. "We get all levels of athlete and outdoor (enthusiast)."

Keith said the most three commonly asked questions from the burgeoning runner/hiker/triathlete are:

• Are my shoes still good?

• I have this pain... and, can you help?

...and:

• I want to start running again - how do I do that?

Keith said 85 percent of the store's clientele are women, but that doesn't mean men aren't willing to get back in shape as the weather warms.

"Oftentimes, wives or girlfriends come in looking for something to buy their (significant others) simply because they're tired of looking at their guy wearing his same old stuff when he goes for a run," she said.

"All people have to do is look outside and see the mountains," she said. "I think everyone this time of year kind of looks around and says 'yep - it's time to get out there'."

Fleet Feet is sponsor of the Prison Hill Half Marathon April 26 and co-sponsors Saturday trail running clubs. For more information, email: scott@fleetfeetcarsoncity.com or call 883-3361.

• Contact reporter Andrew Pridgen at apridgen@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.