019
FXUS65 KREV 170809
AFDREV
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
109 AM PDT TUE MAR 17 2026
KEY MESSAGES
* STRONG HIGH PRESSURE WILL RESULT IN HISTORIC MARCH WARMTH THIS
WEEK.
* THE WARM TEMPERATURES WILL ACCELERATE SNOWMELT, LEADING TO
RIVERS RUNNING FAST AND COLD.
* DRY AND MILD WEATHER IS FAVORED THROUGH THE WEEKEND, BUT A
PATTERN CHANGE WITH SOME COOLING AND CHANCES FOR RAIN OR SNOW
APPEARS TO RETURN BY MARCH 24TH OR 25TH.
DISCUSSION
* A RECORD SETTING PERIOD OF MARCH HEAT BEGINS TODAY AS EASTERN CA
AND WESTERN NV BECOME MORE DIRECTLY INFLUENCED BY AN UNUSUALLY
STRONG HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE CENTERED OVER THE SOUTHWEST US.
DURING THE CORE OF THIS HEAT EVENT TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY, HIGHS
WILL CLIMB WELL INTO THE 80S FOR MOST LOWER ELEVATIONS, AND
70S-NEAR 80 FOR SIERRA COMMUNITIES--LEVELS NOT SEEN FOR ANY
PRIOR MARCH IN AREA CLIMATE RECORDS GOING BACK TO THE LATE
1800S. WINDS WILL BE GENERALLY ON THE LIGHT SIDE WITH MODEST
LATE DAY WEST BREEZES EACH DAY ACROSS WESTERN NV. BY SATURDAY,
TEMPERATURES START TO TREND DOWNWARD, BUT RECORD HIGHS ARE STILL
WELL WITHIN REACH, WHILE WINDS INCREASE TO MORE TYPICAL ZEPHYR-
TYPE LEVELS (GUSTS NEAR 25 MPH). THE DRY AIR MASS WILL STILL
ALLOW FOR DECENT COOLING EACH NIGHT, KEEPING HEATRISK IN THE
MINOR CATEGORY FOR LOWER ELEVATIONS, BUT RECORD WARM LOWS FOR
EACH DATE ARE ALSO ON THE TABLE THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. SEE
THE CLIMATE SECTION BELOW FOR DAY-BY-DAY LISTS OF RECORD
HIGHS/WARMEST LOWS/NORMAL HIGHS, AND RECORD MARCH HIGHS AT RENO
AND SOUTH LAKE TAHOE.
* MELTING SNOW WILL CAUSE LOCAL RIVERS AND STREAMS TO RISE AND
FLOW MORE RAPIDLY THIS WEEK, ALTHOUGH NO FLOODING IS EXPECTED.
WHILE THESE DAYS OF HEAT MIGHT MAKE IT TEMPTING TO COOL OFF IN
THESE RIVERS, THE WATER REMAINS COLD ENOUGH TO QUICKLY CAUSE
PHYSICAL SHOCK AND EXHAUSTION. TO STAY SAFE, AVOID THE WATER AND
KEEP CHILDREN AND PETS AWAY FROM FAST-MOVING RIVERBANKS.
* FROM SUNDAY THROUGH NEXT WEEK, THIS RIDGE IS PROJECTED TO
FLATTEN AND RETREAT FARTHER SOUTH, CONTINUING A GRADUAL COOLING
TREND WITH BREEZY AFTERNOONS. FORECAST HIGHS DIP TO THE LOWER-
MID 70S FOR LOWER ELEVATIONS AND UPPER 50S-MID 60S NEAR THE
SIERRA BY EARLY NEXT WEEK--STILL ABOUT 10 DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE.
THERE ARE SIGNALS FOR ADDITIONAL COOLING AND AN INCREASING
CHANCE FOR GUSTY WINDS AND VALLEY RAIN/MOUNTAIN SNOW TOWARD THE
MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK (MARCH 24-25), ALTHOUGH CONFIDENCE IS STILL
LOW FOR A WIDESPREAD OR NOTABLE PRECIP EVENT. MJD
AVIATION
* LIGHT WINDS AND VFR CONDITIONS CONTINUE THROUGH THIS WEEK, WITH
LESS THAN 20% CHANCE FOR PATCHY EARLY AM FOG AT KTRK STARTING
WEDNESDAY. STRONG WARMING COULD BRING DENSITY ALTITUDE CONCERNS
FOR WESTERN NV TERMINALS EACH AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY.
REDUCTIONS TO SLANTWISE VISIBILITY MAY ALSO OCCUR EACH MORNING
DUE TO INVERSIONS AND SUBSEQUENT HAZE AROUND WESTERN NV
TERMINALS. MJD
CLIMATE
BOTH AREA CLIMATE SITES (RENO AT KRNO AND SOUTH LAKE TAHOE AT KTVL)
ARE ON TRACK TO SET NEW RECORD HIGH AND WARMEST LOW TEMPERATURES
EACH DAY FROM TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY.
CURRENT RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES FOR RENO AND SOUTH LAKE TAHOE:
DATE RENO,NV SOUTH LAKE TAHOE,CA
---- ------------ -------------------
3/17 78F IN 2007 65F IN 2007
3/18 77F IN 1947 63F IN 2004
3/19 77F IN 1997 65F IN 2015
3/20 81F IN 2004 68F IN 1997
3/21 80F IN 2004 68F IN 1997
-------------------------------------------------------
CURRENT RECORD WARMEST LOW TEMPERATURES FOR RENO AND SOUTH LAKE
TAHOE:
DATE RENO,NV SOUTH LAKE TAHOE,CA
---- ------------ -------------------
3/17 48F IN 2015 38F IN 2007
3/18 47F IN 1945 37F IN 2021
3/19 46F IN 2013 38F IN 2013
3/20 47F IN 2013 35F IN 2013
3/21 46F IN 2015 38F IN 1972
-------------------------------------------------------
NORMAL HIGH TEMPERATURES FOR RENO AND SOUTH LAKE TAHOE:
DATE RENO,NV SOUTH LAKE TAHOE,CA
---- ---------- -------------------
3/17 60F 48F
3/18 60F 48F
3/19 60F 48F
3/20 60F 49F
3/21 60F 49F
-------------------------------------------------------
WARMEST DAILY MARCH TEMPERATURES ON RECORD:
RENO, NV: 83F ON 3/31/1966
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA: 71F ON 3/30/2015
REV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
NV...NONE.
CA...NONE.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO PREVIOUS BULLETINS.
Main Text Page