650
FXUS65 KREV 072129
AFDREV
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
129 PM PST WED JAN 7 2026
KEY MESSAGES
* BREEZY WEST WINDS DEVELOP TODAY AHEAD OF THE NEXT STORM WITH
RECREATION AND AVIATION IMPACTS POSSIBLE WITH GUSTY RIDGE WINDS.
* THE NEXT STORM ARRIVES THIS EVENING INTO THURSDAY MORNING,
SETTING US UP FOR LIGHT MOUNTAIN AND VALLEY SNOW POTENTIAL.
* WARMER, DRIER WEATHER RETURNING THROUGH AT LEAST THE END OF NEXT
WEEK.
DISCUSSION
* AS OF 12 PM, ISOLATED LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS ARE STILL IMPACTING
DONNER PASS AND ECHO SUMMIT. THE CAMERA NETWORKS AND COLFAX SNOW
LEVEL PROFILER CURRENTLY SHOW SNOW LEVELS AROUND 6,000 FEET.
OTHER THAN THE LIGHT SNOW OVER THE PASSES, THE REST OF THE
REGION IS DRY AND CHILLY WITH AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES IN THE
MID-30S TO MID-40S. WINDS DID REACH INTO THE 50-80 MPH RANGE
EARLIER THIS MORNING, BUT HAVE SINCE SUBSIDED THIS AFTERNOON.
HOWEVER, WINDS ARE STILL ELEVATED ON LAKE TAHOE AND PYRAMID
LAKE, AND THE LAKE WIND ADVISORIES WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL 7
AM THURSDAY.
* NOW FOR THE MORE IMPACTFUL WEATHER IN STORE FOR TONIGHT INTO
THURSDAY MORNING. A FAIRLY STRONG COLD FRONT IS STILL POISED TO
IMPACT WESTERN NV AND THE EASTERN SIERRA. ALTHOUGH THIS FRONT
IS MOISTURE STARVED SINCE THE AIRMASS ORIGIN IS FROM THE NORTH,
THE MODELS ARE SHOWING A TROPOPAUSE FOLD (OR PV FOLD). WHAT THE
PV FOLD DOES IS IT PROVIDES AN UPPER-LEVEL DYNAMICAL FORCING
MECHANISM THAT CAN INCREASE FRONTOGENESIS IN THE LOWER
ATMOSPHERE. THIS CAN RESULT IN A STRONGER COLD FRONT, MORE
SIGNIFICANT/ORGANIZED PRECIPITATION, AND STRONGER WINDS.
* A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN NV; INCLUDING
THE GREATER RENO METRO AREA, THE INNER BASINS, AND SOUTH INTO
MINERAL COUNTY. AS FOR TIMING, MOSTLY SNOW SHOWERS WILL START IN
EASTERN LASSEN, CENTRAL WASHOE, AND NORTHERN PERSHING BY AROUND
7 TO 9 PM. SNOWFALL WILL THEN MOVE INTO THE RENO AREA AND ALONG
I-80 EASTWARD INTO PERSHING/CHURCHILL COUNTIES BY AROUND 10 PM
TO 12 AM. AFTER THAT, SNOW MOVES INTO DOUGLAS/LYON BY AROUND
MIDNIGHT TO 3 AM. SNOW THEN FINALLY HITS MINERAL/SOUTHERN LYON
COUNTIES BY 3-5 AM. ALTHOUGH BELOW ADVISORY AMOUNTS, SNOW WILL
BE FALLING IN THE EASTERN SIERRA TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING.
PLEASE GO TO WWW.WEATHER.GOV/REV/WINTER FOR MORE FORECAST
INFORMATION. AS IS OFTEN THE CASE WITH BANDED PRECIPITATION
EVENTS IS THAT ONE AREA COULD GET 2-4" OR HIGHER, WHILE ANOTHER
AREA NEARBY MAY JUST RECEIVE A TRACE. BUT, DUE TO THE TIMING,
THE MORNING COMMUTE WILL EXPERIENCE TRAVEL ISSUES.
* AFTER THIS SYSTEM PASSES THROUGH, A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE
BUILDS BACK INTO THE REGION INTO THE WEEKEND. WE'LL HAVE SOME
COLD WINTER DAYS THROUGH SATURDAY, AND A SLOW WARMUP BY
SUNDAY/MONDAY. -MCKELLAR
AVIATION
* SURFACE WINDS WILL BE INCREASING TODAY, WITH SUSTAINED WINDS FOR
WESTERN NEVADA TERMINALS REACHING 15-20 KTS AFTER 21Z. LLWS AND
MOUNTAIN WAVE ACTIVITY WILL BE INTERMITTENT THIS EVENING
THROUGH EARLY TOMORROW AS RIDGES GUST TO 60 KTS AFTER 00Z.
* THE POTENTIAL FOR SNOW SHOWERS RETURNS AFTER THURSDAY 6Z WITH
LOCAL VISIBILITY REDUCTIONS POSSIBLE AND LIGHT SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS. HOWEVER, BANDED SNOWFALL MAY REDUCE VISIBILITY
RAPIDLY, AND RESULT IN LOCALLY HEAVY SNOW RATES AND QUICK SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS. HRICH/MCKELLAR
REV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
NV...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM PST THURSDAY
NVZ002.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 1 AM TO 10 AM PST THURSDAY NVZ001.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM PST
THURSDAY NVZ003-004.
LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM PST THURSDAY
NVZ004.
CA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM PST THURSDAY
CAZ072.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
Main Text Page