A change in the weather for Northern Nevada

A storm off the California coast is expected to bring rain to the Carson City area by this evening and continue through Wednesday.

A second, colder storm from the Gulf of Alaska is forecasted to come through the area Thanksgiving evening, bringing with it snow showers for elevations above 4,800 feet.

"We will see a change in the weather starting Tuesday," said Jessica Kielhorn, meteorologist technician with the National Weather Service in Reno. "Mainly an increase in clouds with a 30 percent chance of rain, with a chance of rain through Wednesday evening.

"Temperatures should be in the low to mid-50s Wednesday for the high, with lows in the low 30s. The first storm is off the California coast moving inland.

"This is average for Northern Nevada at this time of year. We are under a high-pressure system today, which is trapping pollution " haze and smoke, and by Wednesday should be gone."

AAA is predicting the uncertain economy will keep more Nevadans closer to home this Thanksgiving as well. The auto club projects 310,000 Nevadans plan to travel 50 miles or more during the holiday, or 6 percent fewer than last year.

AAA says this is the first decline of Thanksgiving travel since 2002. Nationally, AAA estimates 41 million people will travel, a 1.4 percent decrease from 2007.

Thursday's weather will be mostly cloudy with a forecasted high of 49 with a slight chance of rain showers in the evening. Friday brings the chance of snow showers mixing with the rain as the front from the Gulf of Alaska moves southward. The snow level will be around 4,800 feet.

For the Reno-Carson City area last year, daytime temperatures were in the upper 40s and low 50s, with overnight lows in the mid to upper 20s.

"There was no rain at this time last year until Nov. 30," Kielhorn said.

The chance of rain and snow showers continues into Saturday with Sunday's forecast calling for partly sunny skies with a high near 45.

For travel and weather information while in Nevada, dial 511. For information while in California, visit www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi, or call (800) 427-7623.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

- Contact Rhonda Costa at rcosta@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.