Red Flag Warning 5, NWS Reno, NV

470 
WWUS85 KREV 251955
RFWREV

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Reno NV
1255 PM PDT Mon Sep 25 2023

CAZ270-278-NVZ458-260300-
/O.CON.KREV.FW.W.0005.230925T2000Z-230926T0300Z/
Surprise Valley California-Eastern Lassen County-
Northern Washoe County-
1255 PM PDT Mon Sep 25 2023

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING
FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR SURPRISE VALLEY, EASTERN
LASSEN COUNTY, AND NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY...

* CHANGES...

* Affected Area...Fire Weather Zone 270 Surprise Valley 
  California, Fire Weather Zone 278 Eastern Lassen County and 
  Fire Weather Zone 458 Northern Washoe County.

* Winds...Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts 35 to 45 mph.

* Humidity...10 to 20 percent.

* Duration...3 to 7 hours.

* Impacts...The combination of gusty winds and low humidity can 
  cause fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity before first 
  responders can contain them.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Avoid outdoor activities that can cause a spark near dry
vegetation, such as yard work, target shooting, or campfires.
Follow local fire restrictions. Check weather.gov/reno for
updates and livingwithfire.info for preparedness tips.

&&

$$

http://weather.gov/reno

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
247 AM PDT Sun Sep 24 2023

.SYNOPSIS...
Smoke from the Quarry fire to our south will impact air quality
today in the Tahoe Basin and greater Reno area. An approaching
trough on Monday will lead to strong winds in the Sierra, northeast
CA, and western NV. This will lead to impacts to lake recreation,
aviation, and travel. Also, areas of critical fire weather
conditions will be possible in areas of receptive fuels across
portions of northeast CA and western NV on Monday afternoon.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Smoke and haze from the Quarry Wildfire, which is near Strawberry
CA, will impact the Tahoe Basin and greater Reno-Carson City-
Minden area today. Air quality sensors are currently indicating
moderately poor to unhealthy for sensitive group readings from the
Lake Tahoe region into the Carson Valley. Expect this haze and
smoke to stick around into the late morning until it's fully mixed
out. However, given the prevailing upper level winds, any
additional smoke production from the Quarry fire will continue to
impact air quality in these aforementioned areas through later
this evening.

Otherwise, today's high temperatures will be similar to Saturday
and near seasonal for late September. The difference for today is
that we'll see an increase in southwesterly winds along the higher
Sierra ridges as a deep low pressure moves closer to the Pacific
NW. Winds along the Sierra ridges could gust upwards of 40-50 mph
by this afternoon, especially north of US-50.

As the deep low pressure moves into the Pacific NW on Monday,
winds will further ramp up across far northwest NV and northeast
CA. Gusts could reach upwards of 30-40 mph in these areas, with
stronger gusts of 50 mph along exposed ridges. Winds could gust
upwards of 50-70 mph on the highest ridges in the Tahoe area,
especially north of Mono County. This could lead to impacts to
recreation for area lakes (particularly Pyramid Lake), and
dangerous crosswinds for high profile vehicles.

Another concern due to these strong winds will be locally critical
fire weather conditions in northeast CA and northwest NV on Monday
afternoon. Main fire weather concerns will focus across eastern
portions Lassen County, far northern Washoe County, and the
Surprise Valley. The combination of strong gusts upwards of 35-45
mph with minimum RHs of 15-20% will produce a 3-7 hour period of
critical conditions.

After the passage of the strong winds, light showers will push
into northeast CA and far northwest NV where there is a 30-50%
chance of rain. The greatest chances for measurable precipitation
are in far western Lassen County, which could see between
0.10-0.25" through Monday evening. Ensembles are showing a
continued long-wave troughy pattern into next weekend. This will
lead to continued cool, breezy conditions with chances of
precipitation. -McKellar

&&

.AVIATION...

Areas of slantwise MVFR visibilties in haze and smoke is possible
through the late morning in the greater Lake Tahoe area and into
far western NV due to the Quarry fire near Strawberry CA.

Southwest winds will increase in strength across the Sierra,
northeast CA, and western NV this afternoon and evening as deep
trough approaches the west coast. Sustained winds of 20-30 kts
with gusts to 50 kts are expected along the Sierra crests by this
evening. Periods of mountain wave turbulence and LLWS are
possible after 03Z Mon at the Sierra terminals KTVL-KTRK-KSVE.
LLWS is also possible for KRNO-KCXP-KMEV after 03Z Monday.

Stronger west to southwesterly winds are possible on Monday
throughout the Sierra, northeast CA, and far western NV terminal
with continued mountain wave turbulence and LLWS.
-McKellar

&&

.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...None.
CA...None.
&&