Winter Visit - Pre-Move (Reno, Sparks: HOA, how much, house)

[Mikala43]

We are returning to Carson City-Genoa in a couple weeks to see if we can stand the cold.

We will drive (rented a pickup truck) from NorCal to Genoa and stay a week. We will probably visit Damonte Ranch, Minden, and Gardnerville this time, but we have our heart set on the Genoa area.

Aside from some vacation stuff like snowboard lessons, any suggestions on what we should see or do to finalize our decision to move in a couple years?

One thing I am adamant about: I do NOT want a windy area

[kttam186290]

Isn't that whole region windy? Mark Twain famously wrote about the "Washoe Zephyr". Interesting!

[Vic Romano]

In my opinion, most of the time the below freezing temps in the area are not as bad as the damp below freezing temps in the Northwest.

There is some wind in the region, it's just a matter of how much.

From what I've experienced so far, the windiest parts are the sections west of and along I-580/395 (Cold Springs down to Somersett, parts of Arrowcreek), the Washoe Valley, and Eastern Dayton (the worst along with Fernley). Damonte Ranch, Minden and Gardnerville seemed slightly less windy. Our soon to be retirement home in Northeastern Sparks (next to Spanish Springs) was even less windy, due to the hills surrounding Sun Valley. However, going south a bit the wind does pick up.

I didn't notice severe wind in the main portion of Carson City, a little more on the outskirts.

I used to live in the Santa Ana Canyon in So. Cal. where every so often we'd get those strong warm winds. Most of the Reno area doesn't seem that bad to me, but it does seem more consistent.

Staying a week helps a lot. We made several 3 day trips to the area.

One thing about Minden in the Johnson Lane area. Since thunderstorms occasionally pop up, that area has issues with flash flooding. I've seen pictures of muddy flows. I don't think it's life threatening, but it can be inconvenient.

By now I think they competed the I-580 extension past the main part of Carson City. It would be interesting to know how much that has reduced traffic in the city, as it can be crowded.

[Mikala43]

Thanks for the info!! We are pretty set on the base of the Sierra Nevadas, west of the freeway. From what I've heard of the Washoe winds - no way.

[owelles]

Originally Posted by Mikala43

Thanks for the info!! We are pretty set on the base of the Sierra Nevadas, west of the freeway. From what I've heard of the Washoe winds - no way.

The worst wind I've experienced was near Washoe Valley, on 395/580 between Carson City and Reno. About two years ago the wind overturned two semis (one northbound, one southbound) within an hour of each hour on that stretch of freeway. I was all over the road in my midsize sedan.

As mentioned earlier, Somersett also can get pretty bad. Genoa should be affected less, I would think.

[Nn2036]

The Windiest time is usually before the storm.

I don't notice the wind in Reno that different from where I used to live in Dallas, Detroit and Chicago.

[Vic Romano]

Originally Posted by Nn2036

The Windiest time is usually before the storm.

I don't notice the wind in Reno that different from where I used to live in Dallas, Detroit and Chicago.

I think it's due to atmospheric pressure change, so yes, when a low pressure system moves in or when a high pressure system moves in. I've experienced the Fernley and Dayton summer wind...that's a paint stripper!!!

[Mikala43]

I've heard in some areas there is no point to putting out patio furniture - it gets blown all over the yard.

[NevadaRE]

The drive from California to Northern Nevada can be difficult if it's snowing through the pass. Check the weather and road conditions and get a 4WD vehicle. We have had a very mild winter so far in Northern Nevada. In Reno this winter it was really windy once followed by light snow.

[2sleepy]

Originally Posted by owelles

The worst wind I've experienced was near Washoe Valley, on 395/580 between Carson City and Reno. About two years ago the wind overturned two semis (one northbound, one southbound) within an hour of each hour on that stretch of freeway. I was all over the road in my midsize sedan.

As mentioned earlier, Somersett also can get pretty bad. Genoa should be affected less, I would think.

It's bad near Washoe Valley, I got caught in a bad windstorm that picked up a pile of NDOT gravel and it pummelled my windshield so badly that I had to get it replaced. Another special place is 395 between Reno and Stead, a sandstorm peeled most of the paint off of my husbands BMW.

We lived off of McCarren south of 80 and we couldn't use our deck, it faced west and we couldn't put patio furniture out, it would get tossed from one end of the deck to the other until it fell apart. We had to have BBQ's on the side of our house it was really weird because the HOA didn't want us to put patio furniture out there so we would grill our steaks and eat them in the house

The whole area is too windy for me but there are spots that seem less windy. I had friends in Hidden Valley and they didn't seem to have a big wind problem there and when we went downtown it would get windy but not like it was where we lived. If you are going to live in a windy area in Northern Nevada make sure that the area where you want to spend time outdoors does not face west or you will be sorry. East facing patios/decks are the safest bet.