Cities near Reno that are less windy? (Sparks, Fernley: high school, living in)

[cforput]

I have a job interview toward the end of this week for a job in Reno. I have read a lot of the posts regarding Reno and the only one that might be a concern is the wind. It sounds like it can get bad.

Are there any cities maybe back toward Tahoe or Truckee that are close enough to commute from AND are less windy?

[Clarks]

Sure, Truckee and Tahoe both work. The winds in Reno are partly the result of the downslope effect, and some parts of Reno are windier than others, as you get out away from the Carson and Verdi Ranges (it is a common mistake to think that one can see the Sierra Nevada Range from Reno, it actually lies on the west of Lake Tahoe and west of Donner Lake) you get away from the downslope winds. The difference in windiness between the area around McQueen high school and Sparks can be remarkable. Fernley can be less windy also.

[cforput]

Originally Posted by Clarks

Sure, Truckee and Tahoe both work. The winds in Reno are partly the result of the downslope effect, and some parts of Reno are windier than others, as you get out away from the Carson and Verdi Ranges (it is a common mistake to think that one can see the Sierra Nevada Range from Reno, it actually lies on the west of Lake Tahoe and west of Donner Lake) you get away from the downslope winds. The difference in windiness between the area around McQueen high school and Sparks can be remarkable. Fernley can be less windy also.

Clarks,
thanks for the info. Can you help me just a little more. You say the difference between McQueen HS and Sparks can be remarkable are you saying that the wind is worse at McQueen HS or in Sparks?

[Clarks]

The McQueen area is worse, the closer you are to the Carson and Verdi Ranges the windier. Although, seems to me East Washoe Valley is worse than west. Sometimes on a spring day horses blow away.

Mark Twain remarked on the Washoe breezes, he referred to them as the Washoe zephyr. He said a common past time was flying barn doors as kites.

I don't know if you are a boater, if you are, keep in mind that Pyramid Lake is a great lake to boat in, but that the winds there can be deadly.

Where ever you are coming from, you will love it in Reno, if you are an outdoorsman, if you are an indoors person, you may as well be in Cleveland.

From Tahoe to Pyramid to the Black Rock Desert, it is a great place to wander about in.

If you join the Reno Ski Club, you will meet good people and have fun.

Don't mind the wind, it keeps the air breathable, in winter when the wind doesn't blow, the air gets pretty stagnant "intermountain valley inversion layer"

We sail, we knew the wind would pop up about 1:00 PM, it would chase the power boats off the lake and leave it for us sailors.

[NVDave]

Tahoe and Truckee aren't dependable commutes in the winter. There will be plenty of days when you will not be able to get down (or back up) the commute due to snow and ice. And when storms are coming in or leaving, there's plenty of wind in Tahoe or Truckee.

Wind is just part of living in the intermountain west. If you really don't want wind, then you need to rethink where you're going to live.

[Clarks]

Heh? I commuted from Truckee to Reno 5 days a week for 23 years. I never missed a day of work due to weather or the roads. Caltrans does a great job. For us, getting to the interstate was the hard part. 5 miles of unpaved road with the 4x4 pickup chained up on all four wheels. Often I80 will close to through traffic, but will let local traffic go. It is nice in a serious storm to have the interstate to yourself. What closes I80 is not snow, but wrecks, and the occasional rockslide, but that is what god made cat 960's for.

But, that said, if you commute over Mt Rose Highway from Incline or 267 you might have a problem. But, if you come the River Road out of Tahoe City, seldom is there a problem.

Wind in Tahoe and Truckee comes up in the afternoon in the summer, makes for great sailing but is not a problem. By the time the wind gets to the crest and slides down into Reno it is unpleasant.

Storm winds in the winter occur, the ambient wind over the Sierra crest is among the highest in the nation, which makes for great saltation, which gives the north and east facing bowls of the Tahoe area ski areas, that great depth we all like. Is the wind a problem? No, it is merely part of the storm cycle. Between storms in the winter in both Tahoe/Truckee and Reno/Sparks is the lack of wind and the insuing stagnation.

[MtnBikeNV]

I think people can get over dramatic about the wind. If you're in Nevada, it's going to be breezy. It's not limited to Reno.

[VerdeOjos5]

Originally Posted by MtnBikeNV

I think people can get over dramatic about the wind. If you're in Nevada, it's going to be breezy. It's not limited to Reno.

i totally agree. i have yet to feel hurricane force winds so i dont have much to complain about is how i feel!!!

[jaada]

wind gusts were so bad in gardnerville it blew roofs off and took my entire fense down lol

[cforput]

Originally Posted by Clarks

Heh? I commuted from Truckee to Reno 5 days a week for 23 years. I never missed a day of work due to weather or the roads. Caltrans does a great job. For us, getting to the interstate was the hard part. 5 miles of unpaved road with the 4x4 pickup chained up on all four wheels. Often I80 will close to through traffic, but will let local traffic go. It is nice in a serious storm to have the interstate to yourself. What closes I80 is not snow, but wrecks, and the occasional rockslide, but that is what god made cat 960's for.

But, that said, if you commute over Mt Rose Highway from Incline or 267 you might have a problem. But, if you come the River Road out of Tahoe City, seldom is there a problem.

Wind in Tahoe and Truckee comes up in the afternoon in the summer, makes for great sailing but is not a problem. By the time the wind gets to the crest and slides down into Reno it is unpleasant.

Storm winds in the winter occur, the ambient wind over the Sierra crest is among the highest in the nation, which makes for great saltation, which gives the north and east facing bowls of the Tahoe area ski areas, that great depth we all like. Is the wind a problem? No, it is merely part of the storm cycle. Between storms in the winter in both Tahoe/Truckee and Reno/Sparks is the lack of wind and the insuing stagnation.

Can you give me an idea of the travel time from both Truckee to Reno and from Incline to Reno? The job is basically within walking distance of the airport.

How about times for a bad day of snow and when it is clear?