Winter Storm Warning 3, NWS Reno, NV

472 
WWUS45 KREV 211233
WSWREV

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
433 AM PST SUN FEB 21 2010

...SNOW TO CONTINUE ACROSS NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND WESTERN NEVADA
THIS MORNING...

.AN ORGANIZED SNOW BAND WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ACROSS SOUTHEAST
PLUMAS AND FAR EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES INTO SOUTHERN WASHOE...STOREY
AND NORTHERN LYON COUNTIES THROUGH LATE THIS MORNING. UNSTABLE
AIR ALOFT AND THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT HAS PRODUCED MODERATE TO
HEAVY SNOW...WITH SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR. THESE
SNOWFALL RATES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY THIS MORNING THEN BEGIN
TO DECREASE. THE SNOW BAND IS FAIRLY NARROW SO ONLY A NARROW STRIP
IN THE WARNING AREA WILL RECEIVE THE HEAVIEST ACCUMULATIONS.
OUTSIDE OF THIS NARROW BAND ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE MUCH LIGHTER.

LOCATIONS SURROUNDING THE WARNING AREA WHICH INCLUDE...
SUSANVILLE...THE LAKE TAHOE BASIN...DOUGLAS COUNTY...SOUTHERN
LYON COUNTY AND NORTHERN MINERAL COUNTY WILL BE AFFECTED BY HEAVY
SNOW SHOWERS AND RECEIVE SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW.

IN AREAS OF HEAVY SNOW...TRAVEL WILL BE DIFFICULT WITH VERY LOW
VISIBILITY. TRAVELERS ON INTERSTATE 80...HIGHWAYS 50 AND 395
SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS THIS MORNING.

CAZ071-211800-
/O.CON.KREV.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-100221T1800Z/
LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS-EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...PORTOLA
433 AM PST SUN FEB 21 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS
MORNING...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10
AM PST THIS MORNING.

* SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS MORNING...WITH THE HEAVIEST SNOW
  OCCURRING BEFORE 8 AM. SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR
  ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH 8 AM.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE...LASSEN COUNTY SOUTH OF JANESVILLE... 
  EASTERN PLUMAS COUNTY AND EASTERN SIERRA COUNTY. 

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS 5 TO 10 INCHES BELOW 5000 FEET...WITH 8
  TO 14 INCHES POSSIBLE ABOVE 5000 FEET. LOCAL ACCUMULATIONS
  AROUND HIGHWAY 395 FROM DOYLE TO HALLELUJAH JUNCTION WILL
  RECEIVE 6 TO 10 INCHES.

* HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS WILL PRODUCE HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS 
  ALONG HIGHWAYS 49...70...89...AND 395. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

CONDITIONS CAN DETERIORATE RAPIDLY DURING WINTER STORMS...SLOW
DOWN AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME WHEN TRAVELING.  CARRY TIRE CHAINS...
FOOD...WATER...BLANKETS AND A FLASHLIGHT IN YOUR CAR IN CASE OF
AN EMERGENCY.  CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/RENO OR LISTEN TO
NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION.

&&

$$

NVZ003-004-211800-
/O.CON.KREV.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-100221T1800Z/
GREATER RENO-CARSON CITY-MINDEN AREA-
WESTERN NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE INCLUDING PYRAMID LAKE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SPARKS...FERNLEY...FALLON...
SILVER SPRINGS
433 AM PST SUN FEB 21 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS
MORNING...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10
AM PST THIS MORNING.

* SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS MORNING...WITH THE HEAVIEST SNOW
  OCCURRING BEFORE 8 AM. SNOW FALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE
  POSSIBLE THROUGH 8 AM.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE...SOUTHERN WASHOE COUNTY...CARSON CITY...
  STOREY COUNTY...NORTHERN LYON COUNTY AND WESTERN CHURCHILL
  COUNTY.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES ON VALLEY
  FLOORS...MAINLY NORTH OF CARSON CITY...WITH UP TO 4 INCHES
  ELSEWHERE. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 12 INCHES ABOVE 5000 FEET.
  LOCAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS IN THE NORTH VALLEYS OF RENO-
  SPARKS...INCLUDING COLD SPRINGS AND SPANISH SPRINGS...WILL REACH
  10 TO 14 INCHES BY LATE THIS MORNING.

* HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS WILL PRODUCE HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS 
  ALONG INTERSTATE 80...AND HIGHWAYS 50...95...341...AND 395. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

CONDITIONS CAN DETERIORATE RAPIDLY DURING WINTER STORMS...SLOW
DOWN AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME WHEN TRAVELING.  CARRY TIRE CHAINS...
FOOD...WATER...BLANKETS AND A FLASHLIGHT IN YOUR CAR IN CASE OF
AN EMERGENCY.  CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/RENO OR LISTEN TO
NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION.

&&

$$

LABELLE

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO

130 
WWUS45 KREV 211718
WSWREV

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
918 AM PST SUN FEB 21 2010

...HEAVY SNOW BAND CONTINUE ACROSS NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND
WESTERN NEVADA...

.A BAND OF HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT SOUTHEAST PLUMAS
AND FAR EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES INTO SOUTHERN WASHOE...STOREY...NORTHERN
LYON AND EASTERN PERSHING COUNTIES THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.
SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL CONTINUE INTO EARLY
THIS AFTERNOON....THEN DECREASE LATE THIS AFTERNOON. SNOW MAY NOT
END ACROSS THE WARNING AREAS UNTIL THIS EVENING. 

LOCATIONS SURROUNDING THE WARNING AREA WHICH INCLUDE...THE LAKE
TAHOE BASIN...NORTHERN DOUGLAS COUNTY...SOUTHERN LYON COUNTY AND
NORTHERN MINERAL COUNTY WILL BE AFFECTED BY HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS AND
WILL RECEIVE SEVERAL INCHES OF ADDITONAL SNOW.

IN THE AREAS OF HEAVY SNOW...TRAVEL WILL REMAIN VERY DIFFICULT WITH
VERY LOW VISIBILITY THROUGH TODAY. TRAVELERS ON INTERSTATE
80...HIGHWAYS 50 AND 395 SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR WINTER DRIVING
CONDITIONS THIS MORNING.

CAZ071-220200-
/O.EXT.KREV.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-100222T0300Z/
LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS-EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...PORTOLA
918 AM PST SUN FEB 21 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS
EVENING...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7
PM PST THIS EVENING.

* SNOW WILL CONTINUE TODAY...WITH THE HEAVIEST CONTINUING THROUGH
  EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. SNOW WILL DECREASE THIS AFTERNOON WITH
  SHOWERS INTO THIS EVENING.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE...LASSEN COUNTY SOUTH OF JANESVILLE... 
  EASTERN PLUMAS COUNTY AND EASTERN SIERRA COUNTY.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 12 TO 24 INCHES WILL OCCUR IN THE
  HEAVIEST PORTION OF THE SNOW BAND.

* HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS WILL PRODUCE HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS 
  ALONG HIGHWAYS 49...70...89...AND 395.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

CONDITIONS CAN DETERIORATE RAPIDLY DURING WINTER STORMS...SLOW
DOWN AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME WHEN TRAVELING.  CARRY TIRE CHAINS...
FOOD...WATER...BLANKETS AND A FLASHLIGHT IN YOUR CAR IN CASE OF
AN EMERGENCY.  CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/RENO OR LISTEN TO
NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION.

&&

$$

NVZ003-004-220200-
/O.EXT.KREV.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-100222T0300Z/
GREATER RENO-CARSON CITY-MINDEN AREA-
WESTERN NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE INCLUDING PYRAMID LAKE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SPARKS...FERNLEY...FALLON...
SILVER SPRINGS
918 AM PST SUN FEB 21 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS
EVENING...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7
PM PST THIS EVENING.

* SNOW WILL CONTINUE TODAY...WITH THE HEAVIEST CONTINUING THROUGH
  EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. SNOW WILL DECREASE THIS AFTERNOON WITH
  SHOWERS INTO THIS EVENING.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE...SOUTHERN WASHOE COUNTY...CARSON CITY... 
  STOREY COUNTY...NORTHERN LYON COUNTY AND WESTERN CHURCHILL 
  COUNTY.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 16 TO 26 INCHES WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS
  POSSIBLE IN THE HEAVIEST PORTION OF THE SNOW BAND. TOTAL AMOUNTS
  OF 6 TO 12 INCHES WILL OCCUR OUTSIDE THE CORE OF THE SNOW BAND.
  IN THE CARSON CITY AND FALLON AREAS 3 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW WILL
  OCCUR.

* HEAVY SNOW WILL PRODUCE VERY HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS ALONG
  INTERSTATE 80...AND HIGHWAYS 50...95...341...AND 395.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

CONDITIONS CAN DETERIORATE RAPIDLY DURING WINTER STORMS...SLOW
DOWN AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME WHEN TRAVELING.  CARRY TIRE CHAINS...
FOOD...WATER...BLANKETS AND A FLASHLIGHT IN YOUR CAR IN CASE OF
AN EMERGENCY.  CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/RENO OR LISTEN TO
NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION.

&&

$$

BRONG

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO

827 
WWUS45 KREV 212229
WSWREV

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
229 PM PST SUN FEB 21 2010

...SNOW TAPERING OFF TO LIGHT SHOWERS ACROSS THE GREATER RENO AREA...
...SNOW TO INTENSIFY ACROSS MONO COUNTY THIS EVENING... 

.THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM THAT BROUGHT AN INTENSE BAND OF SNOW
ACROSS THE GREATER RENO AREA THIS MORNING WILL SHIFT SOUTH THIS
EVENING AND WILL MERGE WITH LOW PRESSURE MOVING INLAND FROM THE
PACIFIC. THIS WILL INTENSIFY SNOWFALL ACROSS MONO COUNTY THIS
EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.

CAZ071-NVZ003-004-212330-
/O.CAN.KREV.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-100222T0300Z/
LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS-EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES-GREATER RENO-
CARSON CITY-MINDEN AREA-
WESTERN NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE INCLUDING PYRAMID LAKE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PORTOLA...SPARKS...FERNLEY...FALLON...
SILVER SPRINGS
229 PM PST SUN FEB 21 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS CANCELLED THE WINTER
STORM WARNING. 

LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THIS EVENING...BUT ONLY 1 TO 2
INCHES OF ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED...THEREFORE THE
WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

$$

CAZ073-221200-
/O.NEW.KREV.WW.Y.0011.100221T2229Z-100222T1200Z/
MONO-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BRIDGEPORT...MAMMOTH LAKES
229 PM PST SUN FEB 21 2010

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST MONDAY.

* TIMING: LIGHT SNOW CURRENTLY FALLING ACROSS PORTIONS OF MONO
  COUNTY WILL INTENSIFY AND AFFECT MOST OF MONO COUNTY THIS
  EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 5 TO 10 INCHES WEST OF HIGHWAY 395
  WITH LOCALLY UP TO A FOOT NEAR THE SIERRA CREST. UP TO 5 INCHES
  IS POSSIBLE EAST OF HIGHWAY 395.

* IMPACTS: ROADS WILL BECOME SLICK WITH PERIODS OF LOW VISIBILITY
  BELOW A MILE. CHAIN CONTROLS AND TRAVEL DELAYS ARE LIKELY ALONG
  PORTIONS OF HIGHWAY 395 THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SNOW IS EXPECTED TO POSE AN INCONVENIENCE TO TRAVELERS. ROADS
WILL BECOME SLICK AND HAZARDOUS...WITH SNOW AND ICE FIRST
DEVELOPING ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. MOTORISTS SHOULD SLOW DOWN
AND USE CAUTION.  CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/RENO OR LISTEN
TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION.

&&

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
753 PM PST SAT FEB 20 2010

.UPDATE...
CURRENT FORECAST LOOKING PRETTY GOOD SO FAR. BAND OF SNOW HAS
DEVELOPED AS EXPECTED FROM JUST SOUTH OF SUSANVILLE TO FERNLEY-
FALLON...INCLUDING THE RENO-SPARKS AREA. REPORTS HAVE COME IN THIS
EVENING OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER
HOUR. THIS HAS DROPPED SNOW AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES IN THE
NORTH VALLEYS OF RENO-SPARKS...FROM SPANISH SPRINGS TO COLD
SPRINGS.

STILL EXPECTING TO SEE SOME HEALTHY SNOW TOTALS THROUGH
SUNDAY MORNING...WITH UP TO 4 INCHES ON THE VALLEY FLOORS OF RENO-
SPARKS...WITH UP TO 6 INCHES ABOVE 5000 FEET. COULD SEE SOME
LOCALLY HIGHER SNOW AMOUNTS WITHIN THAT HEAVIER SNOW
BAND...ESPECIALLY JUST NORTH OF RENO-SPARKS. WILL UPDATE PRODUCTS
TO REFLECT THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME LOCALLY HIGHER SNOW AMOUNTS.
HOON

&&

.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 303 PM PST SAT FEB 20 2010/

SHORT TERM...
WAVE TRACKING SOUTH ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF A COLD TROUGH OVER THE
NORTHERN GREAT BASIN WILL REACH NORTHWEST NEVADA THIS EVENING AND
HELP PRODUCE MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS SOUTH OF SUSANVILLE-
PYRAMID LAKE-LOVELOCK AND NORTH OF BRIDGEPORT-HAWTHORNE THIS
EVENING AND TONIGHT. SOUTH OF BRIDGEPORT-HAWTHORNE...GUSTY WEST
WINDS AND 700MB FLOW OF 30-40KTS SHOULD KEEP THE AREA SHADOWED
WITH ONLY LIGHT SHOWERS POSSIBLE TONIGHT.

SHOWERS STARTING TO INCREASE IN THE NORTHERN SIERRA AND RENO-
CARSON AREA. SNOW LEVELS ARE NEAR 5000 FEET AND SHOULD DROP TO
VALLEY FLOORS THIS EVENING WITH THE LOW SURFACE DEW POINTS AND
MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS. DUE TO THE HIGHLY CONVECTIVE ENVIRONMENT
HEAVIER SHOWERS MAY PRODUCE SMALL HAIL OR SNOW PELLETS.

MODELS HAVE REMAINED CONSISTENT THE LAST 24-36 HOURS WITH
DEVELOPING A FRONT FROM PLUMAS COUNTY TO RENO-SPARKS TO CHURCHILL
COUNTY TONIGHT. ALONG THE FRONT AN IMPRESSIVE SNOW BAND AND/OR
TRAINING MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS SHOULD DEVELOP DUE STRONG
LIFT IN THE DENDRITIC GROWTH ZONE...FRONTOGENESIS...AND GOOD
INSTABILITY FROM THE WAVE. SNOW FALL RATES OF 1-2 INCHES PER HOUR
ARE POSSIBLE WITH THE HEAVIER SHOWERS.

MAIN ISSUE WITH THE OPERATIONAL MODELS IS THEIR HIGH QPF...BOTH
GFS AND NAM PRODUCE WIDESPREAD AMOUNTS OVER 0.50 INCHES ALONG THE
FRONTAL BAND THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. USING THE SREF AS A
COMPARISON...THE MAX QPF OUTPUT IS BELOW 0.50 INCHES...WITH A MEAN
IN THE 0.15-0.25 INCH RANGE. THINKING IS 0.15-0.25 INCHES OF
LIQUID IS REASONABLE...BUT A GOOD CHANCE FOR ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP
NEAR 0.50. THIS EQUATES TO UP TO 4 INCHES IS POSSIBLE FOR THE
SIERRA AND WESTERN NEVADA VALLEY FLOORS WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP
TO 8 INCHES ESPECIALLY ON THE NORTHERN SIERRA PEAKS.

FOR SUNDAY STILL SOME QUESTION IN THE MODELS HOW QUICKLY THE
TROUGH/FRONT WILL PASS SOUTH AND EAST OF THE AREA AND IF
ADDITIONAL MOISTURE/ENERGY WILL UNDERCUT THE BLOCKING RIDGE ALONG
THE WEST COAST. 12Z GFS AND 18Z NAM...BRING ALMOST NO ADDITIONAL
MOISTURE AND ENERGY INTO THE AREA AND ALLOW THE TROUGH TO PASS
SOUTH OF THE AREA SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THIS COULD BRING A QUICK END
TO THE HEAVY SHOWERS SUNDAY MORNING...WITH ISOLATED TO SCATTERED
LIGHT SHOWERS INTO SUNDAY NIGHT.

FOR MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING...MOISTURE WITHIN THE TROUGH
WILL KEEP SNOW SHOWERS LINGERING ACROSS THE SIERRA MAINLY SOUTH OF
US-50 MONDAY MORNING...AS WELL AS THE REST OF MONO AND PORTIONS OF
MINERAL COUNTY. TEMPERATURES WILL BE 5 TO 10 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL
IN THE WAKE OF THE TROUGH. AS THIS WAVE EXITS...A SHORTWAVE RIDGE
BUILDS INTO THE WEST MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY FOR A PERIOD OF
DRYING...THOUGH TEMPS WILL REMAIN ON THE COOL SIDE. THE DRYING
WILL BE SHORT LIVED AS ANOTHER MOIST WAVE IS PROGGED TO PUSH INTO
THE WEST TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY. BRONG/DF

LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...
PATTERN CONTINUES TO BE PROGRESSIVE THROUGH THIS PERIOD WITH ANOTHER
SYSTEM AFFECTING THE WEST COAST AND WESTERN U.S. LATE THURSDAY
THROUGH LATE FRIDAY OR SO. OVERALL TREND OF THE MODELS ARE IN DECENT
AGREEMENT BUT THERE ARE THE USUAL SYSTEM TIMING AND AMPLITUDE
DIFFERENCES.

WEDNESDAY THE UPPER FLOW IS ZONAL ACROSS THE EASTERN PACIFIC INTO
THE WEST COAST UNDER A DEEP UPPER LOW IN THE GULF OF ALASKA. THERE
IS ENOUGH OF A MOISTURE TAP TO KEEP LIGHT OROGRAPHIC SNOW GOING IN
THE SIERRA BUT WOULD NOT EXPECT MUCH SPILLOVER EXCEPT FOR SOME LIGHT
SHOWERS IN THE FOOTHILLS.

FOR THURSDAY ANOTHER UPPER LOW SWINGS TO NEAR 45N/140W WITH THE
TROUGH AXIS APPROACHING 130W. THIS PUMPS A RIDGE UP ACROSS THE
WESTERN U.S SO FOR OUR AREA WOULD EXPECT JUST SOME LINGERING SHOWERS
IN THE SIERRA. BY THURSDAY NIGHT THE TROUGH MOVES TO THE WEST COAST
AND THE LATEST EC/GFS RUNS BRING A GOOD SURGE OF MOISTURE INTO THE
SIERRA WITH SOME SPILLOVER POSSIBLE INTO WESTERN NV VALLEYS. THE GFS
IS MORE STRONGLY NEGATIVELY TILTED AND BEGINS TO SHOW SIGNS OF A
SPLIT WHICH HAS BEEN TYPICAL WITH SYSTEMS MOVING INTO THE WEST COAST
FOR THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT THE UPPER LOW IS STILL PARKED OFF OF THE
PACNW COAST BUT MODELS SHOW A DEFINITIVE SPLIT WITH THE BEST ENERGY
AND DYNAMICS SOUTH OF ROUGHLY 35N INTO SOUTHERN CA. THE GFS IS
FASTER IN MOVING THE TROUGH EAST BUT THERE IS CURRENTLY LITTLE
ENSEMBLE SUPPORT FOR THIS SOLUTION. AT ANY RATE EXPECT SNOW LEVELS
TO DROP ON FRIDAY WITH SNOW LIKELY FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT AND JUST
LINGERING SIERRA SNOW SHOWERS SATURDAY.

DETERMINISTIC MODELS AND GEFS SUPPORT LIKELY OR CATEGORICAL POPS IN
THE SIERRA WITH BEST CHANCES OF SPILLOVER THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH
FRIDAY NIGHT SO INCREASED POPS THOSE PERIODS. GEFS ALSO POINTS TO
LINGERING SIERRA SNOW SHOWERS WEDNESDAY INTO WED NIGHT BEFORE THE
SHORTWAVE RIDGE BUILDS IN BRIEFLY THURSDAY. FOR SATURDAY AND
SATURDAY NIGHT KEPT CURRENT MENTION OF CHANCE POPS WITH NO CHANGE TO
PREVIOUS FORECAST DUE TO INCREASED UNCERTAINTY. EXPECT TEMPERATURES
TO BE ABOVE NORMAL FOR WED AND THUR AND BELOW NORMAL FRIDAY INTO THE
WEEKEND AS UPPER TROUGH MOVES THROUGH REGION. JAH

AVIATION...
UNSTABLE AIR MASS THIS AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT AS EVIDENCED BY
MODERATE CU ACROSS THE AREA. SHOWERS ARE CURRENTLY SPREADING INTO
THE SIERRA AND SPILLING OVER INTO THE FOOTHILLS. AN EAST-WEST
ORIENTED UPPER TROUGH WILL SWING ACROSS NORTHERN NEVADA
TONIGHT...INTENSIFYING A COLD FRONT THAT WILL BE POSITIONED FROM
ABOUT PORTOLA-KRNO-KNFL BY 12Z. THIS FRONT WILL FOCUS A RATHER
NARROW NW-SE ORIENTED BAND OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW FROM ABOUT
05Z-13Z ACROSS PARTS OF WESTERN NEVADA AND NORTHEAST CA...AND IS
EXPECTED TO AFFECT KRNO AND KTRK. EXPECT ANY GIVEN LOCATION TO GET A
PERIOD OF MAYBE 3-4 HOURS OF HEAVY SNOW.

KRNO...A PERIOD OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW IS LIKELY TONIGHT
BEGINNING AS EARLY AS 04Z AND TAPERING OFF BY 14Z. THE BEST WINDOW
OF HEAVY SNOW LOOKS TO BE AROUND 07Z-12Z. ACCUMULATION OF 2 INCHES
IS LIKELY WITH UP TO 4 INCHES POSSIBLE. IF BAND OF SNOW BECOMES
CONVECTIVE THEN THERE COULD BE A BRIEF PERIOD OF HEAVY SNOW WITH
RATES UP TO AN INCH PER HOUR ALONG WITH SOME SNOW PELLETS. MVFR
CONDITIONS WITH PERIODS OF IFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITH EVEN
BRIEF LIFR CONDITIONS POSSIBLE.

KTRK...SNOW TONIGHT FROM 03Z-15Z TOMORROW. MVFR CONDITIONS WILL
LOWER TO IFR WITH POSSIBLE LIFR CONDITIONS IN SNOW BY 06Z WITH
CONDITIONS IMPROVING AFTER 15Z. EXPECT 4 INCHES ACCUMULATION WITH UP
TO 6 INCHES POSSIBLE.

KTVL...A PERIOD OF MVFR CONDITIONS IN LIGHT SNOW AS HEAVIER SNOW
SHOULD STAY NORTH OF TERMINAL. KTVL COULD STILL PICK UP AN INCH OR 2
OF SNOW MAINLY 03Z-12Z.  JAH

&&

.REV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NV...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM PST SUNDAY NVZ003-004.

CA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM PST SUNDAY CAZ071.

&&

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
704 PM PST SAT FEB 20 2010

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0700 PM     SNOW             COLD SPRINGS VALLEY     39.67N 119.96W
02/20/2010  M2.0 INCH        WASHOE             NV   NWS EMPLOYEE

            2 INCHES ON THE GROUND IN COLD SPRINGS VALLEY. 0.18
            INCHES MELTED WATER EQUIVALENT. JUST STARTING TO STICK TO
            PAVEMENT.

0700 PM     SNOW             2 S SPANISH SPRINGS     39.63N 119.72W
02/20/2010  M2.0 INCH        WASHOE             NV   TRAINED SPOTTER

            2 INCHES OF ON SNOW IN THE LAST HOUR. SNOWING HEAVILY.
            33.6 DEGREES.

&&

HOON

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
800 PM PST SAT FEB 20 2010

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0720 PM     SNOW             2 SSE RENO              39.51N 119.80W
02/20/2010  M1.0 INCH        WASHOE             NV   TRAINED SPOTTER

            1 INCH OF SNOW ON GRASS AND DECK. JUST STARTING TO STICK
            ON ROADS AND DRIVEWAY.

0759 PM     SNOW             1 N SPANISH SPRINGS     39.63N 119.72W
02/20/2010  M3.0 INCH        WASHOE             NV   NWS EMPLOYEE

            MEASURED 3 INCHES OF SNOW ON FENCES AND ELEVATED
            SURFACES. ABOUT ONE INCH ON THE DRIVEWAY. SNOW BEGINNING
            TO INCREASE AGAIN.

&&

HOON