Carson City will see a mix of rain and snow starting Sunday morning with winds gusting up to 30 mph and drivers are warned to avoid the Sierra from Sunday until Tuesday as a “major winter storm” moves in, according to the National Weather Service.
“Major winter storm is taking aim at the Sierra Sunday through Tuesday,” the NWS said in a special weather statement posted Friday afternoon at weather.gov. “Travel will become very difficult by Sunday night and persisting through Tuesday.
“Avoid travel in the Sierra Sunday through Tuesday if possible.”
Snow levels during the storm are forecast to move between 4,500 feet and 6,000 feet. Carson City’s elevation is 4,717 feet.
“Across western Nevada winds will start to increase Saturday night or Sunday with periods of strong winds possible into Monday night,” the NWS said. “Light rain and snow is possible Sunday into Monday with heavier rain and snow likely as the strongest portion of the storm arrives Monday night into Tuesday.”
Snow levels are predicted to fall to valley floors across western Nevada on Tuesday morning, possibly affecting the morning commute.
CARSON CITY FORECAST
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Saturday night: A 30 percent chance of snow after 4 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Sunday: A chance of snow before 10 a.m., then rain likely. Snow level rising to 6,200 feet in the afternoon. Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Sunday night: Rain likely. Snow level 6,100 feet lowering to 5,500 feet after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday: Rain and snow, becoming all rain after 1 p.m. Snow level 4,900 feet rising to 5,700 feet in the afternoon. High near 45. Breezy, with a south wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Monday night: Rain before 10 p.m., then rain and snow. Snow level 5,400 feet lowering to 4,800 feet after midnight. Low around 26. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Tuesday: Snow, mainly before 4 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37.
Tuesday night: A slight chance of snow before 10 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13.
