Cathleen Allison/Nevada AppealVirginia City is seen Thursday afternoon as high winds and blowing snow kicked up with the incoming storm.
Forecasters predict record-making temperatures will hit Carson City tonight when the mercury dips below zero for the first time this season.
A wind and snow storm is expected to leave as much as two inches of snow in the valley and as much at six inches in the mountains, said National Weather Service Meteorologist Chris Jordan in Reno.
Jordan said the first part of today's' storm will drop significant precipitation in the early morning hours, but intermittent snows showers are expected throughout the day.
Saturday will see a break in the weather, with a high that reaches just 24 degrees.
Sunday winds are expected to be followed with more snow. And a third cold front might just bring with it a white Christmas, said Jordan.
"It looks like the Christmas storm could bring a lot of rain and snow to the area Tuesday through Thursday," he said.
The cold snap recently wreaked havoc on some homeowners when their pipes froze, said Fire Chief Stacey Giomi.
Wednesday and Thursday, firefighters responded to six calls of burst pipes.
He said it's too late now to try to wrap your pipes with insulation, so the best thing to do is heat the areas where your pipes are exposed, like in the garage or attic.
But, Giomi warned, be sure to use UL approved heating appliances with automatic off switches should the units be knocked over.
He also warned against using kerosene heaters indoors because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
"You have to use them in a well-ventilated area, and a home is not well ventilated. Most of them are not meant to be used in a livable, habitable environment," he said.
As a Christmas gift, Giomi suggested giving loved ones carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
"They make pretty good Christmas presents and there are combination units out there that have both," he said. "It really is cheap insurance."
Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.