561
FXUS65 KREV 262008
AFDREV

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
108 PM PDT Sat Apr 26 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

* A late season storm brings periods of mountain snow, a rain-
  snow mix for lower elevations, isolated thunder and brisk chilly
  conditions through Sunday.

* Expect travel disruptions near the Sierra and higher passes in
  Mineral and Southern Lyon counties tonight through Sunday
  morning.

* Warmer and drier weather returns early next week with chances
  of showers and storms returning by mid-late week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

Winter made its largely unwelcome return overnight through this
morning, bringing about 3-7" new snow around the Tahoe
basin, Virginia City and far northern Mono County. Even some
lower elevations around Reno-Carson-Minden received a dusting up
to 2", mainly on unpaved surfaces. While some roads/passes around
Tahoe received snow or slushy accumulations, they became mainly
wet by mid-morning.

While this morning`s snow area has diminished, additional
precip/shower bands will develop this afternoon, with embedded
thunder also joining the action as instability increases. There
won`t be many travel impacts during the remainder of the daytime
hours today, but mainly inconveniences for outdoor activities with
chilly temperatures and breezy W-NW winds persisting.

However, by tonight as the upper low center moves into eastern
NV, wrap around moisture will bring increasing bands of rain and
snow overnight through Sunday morning. The air mass is not quite
as cold compared to this morning with projected snow levels
generally 5500-6000 feet in areas with the best precip chances
(roughly from US-50 northward to Susanville-Gerlach and eastward
across Pershing County), but we can`t rule out some snow mixing
in at times down to 5000 feet. Liquid precip totals in this
favored area have a 30-60% chance of at least 0.25" (and 15-35%
chance of at least 0.50") from 11 PM tonight through 11 AM
Sunday. Additional snowfall during this same time frame in the
advisory areas around Tahoe again look to range from 2-6" with
isolated totals near 9", while lesser amounts (mainly 1-4") are
anticipated for Mono County and higher elevations of Mineral/Lyon
counties. Prepare for slick/slushy travel conditions near the
Sierra and Tahoe basin late tonight thru daybreak Sunday, followed
by improvement in the mid-late morning.

For the remainder of Sunday, the best shower chances shift to
west central NV mainly from US-95 eastward, with embedded thunder
also possible before this activity winds down Sunday evening.
While not quite as chilly as today, highs on Sunday will remain on
the chilly side, about 15 degrees below average for late April
with mainly W-NW breezes producing gusts 20-25 mph.

The upcoming week will start mainly dry with temperatures
rebounding to near average Monday (60s for western NV/50s for
Sierra valleys) and then pushing above 70 for western NV and into
the lower 60s for Sierra valleys Tues-Wed. A few light rain
showers (15-25% chance) may brush across northwest NV Tuesday,
then PM showers with isolated thunder (20-30% chance) are poised
to return mainly to areas near the Sierra and south of US-50 by
Wednesday.

Further warming is projected for Thursday with PM shower/thunder
chances continuing. However, medium range ensemble guidance is
trending toward another Pacific storm bringing increased precip
chances starting Friday afternoon and continuing into Saturday,
with another cooling trend next weekend. While the blended
guidance indicates snow levels generally between 7000-7500 feet by
Saturday, a few colder scenarios would leave open the possibility
of snow down to near 6000 feet. MJD

&&

.AVIATION...

* Bands of rain/snow will continue to produce MVFR/IFR CIGS and
  VIS with widespread terrain obscuration, and periods of LIFR in
  heavier precip bands thru 18Z Sunday at the main terminals. A
  10-20% chance for thunder continues thru 03Z this evening.

* Mainly rain is expected at KRNO/KCXP/KMEV thru Sunday morning,
  although snow or pellets may briefly mix in during heavier
  convective bands. For KTVL/KTRK/KMMH, mainly snow is expected
  with about 20-40% chance for 1-3" of slushy accumulation on
  pavement overnight into Sunday AM, most likely between 06-13Z.

* Generally, winds will not be a major concern with peak gusts
  near 20 kt mainly from the W-NW each afternoon thru Sunday and
  lighter terrain driven winds overnight. If thunderstorms do
  develop, erratic gusts up to 35 kts are possible. MJD

&&

.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM PDT Sunday NVZ001-002.

CA...Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM PDT Sunday CAZ072-073.

&&

$$