High Wind in Nevada, February 24, 2025

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
110 PM PST Sun Feb 23 2025

.SYNOPSIS...

* Wind gusts will peak Monday and Monday night, especially near
  the Oregon border.

* Spring-like temperatures and dry weather will prevail this
  week, especially Wednesday through Friday.

* A cooler and more unsettled weather pattern returns next
  weekend through the first week of March.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

A couple areas of light rain showers across Pershing County and
north central CA west of the northern Sierra will move east and
diminish this afternoon, but the main effect of today's weak
weather system is the widespread mountain wave clouds outside our
window due to moist SW flow aloft. We'll see a quick break between
systems tonight, then another area of low pressure will move
across the Pacific Northwest Monday-Monday night.

This system will be primarily a wind maker with 700 mb flow
increasing to 50-60 kt across northeast CA and far northwest NV
from Monday afternoon-late evening. Farther south across the
Sierra, the 700 mb flow is a little weaker (40-50 kt) which would
still produce peak ridge top gusts of 80-85 mph. Below ridge
levels, the strongest gusts will reach the Surprise Valley and
northern Washoe County where Wind Advisories are in effect,
including some strong late night SW-W gusts pushing across the
Warner Mountains. Other areas north of US-50 will see wind gusts
mainly in the 40-50 mph range with brief 50-60 mph gusts possible
in wind prone sites Monday afternoon-early evening, with patchy
blowing dust downwind of deserts and sinks in northwest-west
central NV. South of US-50 to Mono-Mineral counties, winds will be
less significant with gusts general 35 mph or less. While most
areas will remain dry, a few brief showers are still in the mix
during the day Monday near the Sierra and for Monday night north
of Susanville-Gerlach.

Spring-like temperatures more typical for April will stick around
this week with highs mainly in the 60s to near 70 degrees for
lower elevations and mid 50s-near 60 for Sierra communities. Areas
near the OR border will see a brief cooling on Tuesday behind
Monday's trough passage, then will be joining this short preview
of spring from Wednesday-Saturday. This will primarily be a dry
period, although a 10-20% chance of very light rain and high
elevation snow showers lingers for Thursday afternoon-evening.
However, we can't put away the winter gear quite yet as a quick
moving storm next weekend will bring temperatures back to near
early March averages by Sunday.

This storm will usher in a more progressive and active pattern
with breezy winds and a round of rain showers for lower
elevations, and light snowfall for the Sierra late Saturday into
Sunday. An early look at snow levels start around 7500-8000 feet
before falling to near 5500 feet by early Sunday morning.
Additional quick moving weather systems look to be in the pipeline
through at least the first 10 days of March, with periods of
breezy and showery conditions and temperatures near or slightly
below average. MJD

&&

.AVIATION...

Mountain wave turbulence will continue through Monday night with
FL100 wind gusts peaking Monday afternoon-evening near 75 kt.
Areas of LLWS will also develop for the western NV and Tahoe area
terminals this evening and continue through much of Monday, then
surface wind gusts increase to 30-40 kt at these sites between
18Z-03Z. KMMH will see fewer wind impacts compared to the other
terminals.

Otherwise, VFR conditions will prevail through the upcoming week
with lighter winds expected from Tuesday-Friday. Patchy FZFG
could return to KTRK by late Tuesday night. MJD

&&

.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Wind Advisory from 10 AM Monday to 4 AM PST Tuesday NVZ005.

     Lake Wind Advisory from 7 AM to 10 PM PST Monday NVZ002.

     Lake Wind Advisory from 10 AM to 10 PM PST Monday NVZ004.

CA...Wind Advisory from 10 AM Monday to 4 AM PST Tuesday CAZ070.

     Lake Wind Advisory from 7 AM to 10 PM PST Monday CAZ072.

&&