The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for Carson City, Lake Tahoe and western Nevada from late Saturday through Monday morning.
The forecast also calls for strong chances of snow at higher elevations that will affect mountain travel through Tuesday, at the least.
“Heavy rainfall from an atmospheric river will move into the region Saturday night and may continue into Monday morning,” the NWS said in a statement on its website (weather.gov). “High snow levels will lower to near 6,000 feet sometime Monday.”
The NWS also warned of potential severe impacts in areas burned by summer wildfires.
“This includes the Tamarack, Caldor, and Numbers burn scars,” the statement said. “Rises on small creeks and streams are expected. … Rock falls in canyons and ponding of water on roads will create hazardous driving conditions, especially along Interstate 80 between Truckee and Reno. Localized urban flooding is also possible.”
THE FORECAST
Friday night: A 20 percent chance of rain before 11 p.m. Snow level 7,300 feet lowering to 6,500 feet after midnight . Cloudy, with a low around 36. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: A 30 percent chance of rain after 11 a.m. Snow level 6,300 feet rising to 7,900 feet in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday night: A 50 percent chance of rain, mainly after 11 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Rain. High near 58. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Sunday night: Rain. Snow level 10,100 feet lowering to 7,300 feet after midnight . Low around 34. Breezy, with a southwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Monday: Rain. Snow level 6,900 feet lowering to 5,900 feet in the afternoon. High near 47. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday night: A chance of rain before 2 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow. Snow level 5,900 feet lowering to 5,300 feet after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.
Tuesday: A chance of rain and snow before 8 a.m., then a chance of rain. Snow level 5,300 feet rising to 8,500 feet in the afternoon. Partly sunny, with a high near 50.
Tuesday night: A chance of rain, mainly before 11 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
Wednesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.
