Tuesday's wet day will be followed by two dry days, but forecasters predict the rain will pick back up at week's end and continue late into next week.
"We won't see any more precipitation until Friday, and the temperatures will be a little cooler than they have been due to a cold front passing through," said Dawn Fishler, National Weather Service meteorologist.
Fishler said the moisture will kick back in on Friday and carry through to Thursday of the next week.
"Friday onward is just going to be very wet, basically we're looking at wave after wave after wave of moisture," she said. "The biggest day looks like it will be on Saturday. Snow will come up to 7,500 feet so that will definitely be rain for Carson City."
Weather spotters in Carson City came up with different numbers based on location.
In West Carson City the rain measured 62/100 of an inch. Above the college a measurement of 1.42 inches was noted by 1 p.m. and at the Western Nevada College campus reports indicate 1.25 inches of rain.
"We are in what is called an atmospheric river where we have this steady stream of moisture that is going all across the Pacific and a strong jet that's helping to bring it into the area," said Fishler.
Today is expected to be mostly sunny, with a high near 38 degrees and west winds between 5 and 10 mph. Tonight will be partly cloudy, with a low around 21 degrees and east winds around 5 mph.
Thursday will be mostly sunny, with a high near 39 degrees and southeast winds between 5 and 10 mph.
Forecasters are predicting a slight chance of snow Thursday night with low of 30 degrees.