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This is Dave Myrick from the National Weather Service in Reno with an update on a pair of
winter storms that will impact the Sierra and western Nevada tonight through Friday
morning. A low pressure system is currently merging
with an atmospheric river as it approaches northern California and western Nevada. Forecast
confidence is high for a significant snowfall event above 7000 feet tonight and Thursday
with rain and snow spilling over into western Nevada. Additional snowfall is possible at
all elevations late Thursday night into Friday morning as a second, weaker system moves through
the region. Confidence remains high that we will see significant
snowfall accumulations in the Sierra above 7000 feet where 10 or more inches of snow
is likely by Thursday afternoon. Four to eight inches of snow is forecast near Lake Tahoe.
Confidence on snowfall amounts at lake level is medium as there is some uncertainty in
the exact timing of when snow levels will fall. Motorists planning to travel across
the Sierra tonight and Thursday should be prepared for winter driving conditions and
chain controls. Across western Nevada, wind gusts of 30-40
mph will continue through tonight with higher gusts possible in wind prone areas. Rain will
begin to spillover into western Nevada tonight with one half to up to one inch of rain possible
along the highway 395 corridor from Reno to Mammoth Lakes. Further to the east across
the Basin and Range, a quarter to half inch of rain is forecast. As colder air moves into
the region on Thursday morning, confidence is high that snow levels will lower to near
5000 feet. A snow advisory has been issued for the foothills above 5000 ft near Reno
and Carson City between 4am and 10am Thursday morning where several inches of snow is possible.
Minor accumulations are possible on the valley floors, mainly on grassy surfaces.
A second, weaker system will move into the Sierra and western Nevada Thursday night into
Friday morning. With colder air moving into the region, we are confident that any precipitation
that falls will be in the form of snow. The computer models that we look at are currently
not in agreement with the timing and placement of precipitation for this event. Our best
estimate at this time is for up to 2 inches of snow in the valleys of western Nevada with
up to 5 inches possible in the Sierra. Please check our website weather.gov/reno on Thursday
as we refine this forecast for Thursday night and Friday. Also, please check local road
conditions and give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination over the next few
days. This image shows the current snowfall forecast
for the Sierra and western Nevada through Thursday. For the most current forecasts please
visit weather.gov/reno. You can find additional updates on the storm and send us storm reports
and pictures on Facebook and Twitter at hashtag @NWSReno. Thank you for listening.