Reno/Tahoe Winter Storms 08/09 (snowfall, ice, temperature, city)

[mattyj46]

I'll post on the storms what pass through the Lake Tahoe/Carson City/Reno area just because I like the area so much and they get some good storms. I'll post updates with reports and photos if they are possible

It looks like a short burst is expected before a longer storm which will drop snow into the valley floors (where Reno and Carson City are) which are at 4599 ft.

Current warnings are for wind only

* FOR TAHOE...THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL OCCUR OVER THE SOUTHWEST
SHORE OF LAKE TAHOE NEAR SOUTH LAKE TAHOE...D.L BLISS STATE
PARK...MEEKS BAY. OVER THE RIDGES...GUSTS WELL IN EXCESS OF 100
MPH WILL OCCUR.
* FOR RENO...THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE IN WIND PRONE AREAS SUCH
AS WASHOE VALLEY AND FOOTHILLS WEST OF RENO AND CARSON CITY.
THESE AREAS WILL SEE LOCALLY STRONGER GUSTS UP TO 100 MPH.

More details on the next winter storm which should drop significant snow to Lake Tahoe.

[mattyj46]

The winds what are coming are forecasted to be

"The most windy conditions experienced in the Reno-Tahoe area in nearly two years are expected today, with officials bracing for the damage that might result."

Officials bracing for strong winds in Reno-Tahoe | www.rgj.com | Reno Gazette-Journal

[mattyj46]

Well the winds were not as serious as first though.

"The temperature changes were not as great as expected at 10,000 feet to 20,000 feet, so the storm did not develop energy to send the winds at high speeds down the slopes of the Sierra", said Chris Smallcomb, a National Weather Service Meteorologist.

But the weather service did measure winds of speeds up to 41 mph in Reno, up to 64 mph in Washoe Valley and up to 106 mph at Virginia Peak north of Reno.

http://www.rgj.com/article/20081213/NEWS18/81213003

[mattyj46]

Winter Storm Warning now in check througout the Reno-Tahoe area due to the incoming storm.

...PERIODS OF HEAVY SNOWFALL THROUGH EARLY TUESDAY...

.A DEEP NORTH PACIFIC WINTER STORM WILL BRING HEAVY SNOWFALL TO
NORTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA AND NORTHWESTERN NEVADA. SNOW IS EXPECTED
TO BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON IN THE NORTHERN SIERRA...SPREADING SOUTH
INTO THE CENTRAL SIERRA AND WESTERN NEVADA VALLEYS BY THIS
EVENING.

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.

Reno and Valley area:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 4 PM PST MONDAY.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 4 TO 8 INCHES.

* WINDS: SOUTH WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

Lake Tahoe area:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 4 PM PST MONDAY.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 10 TO 14 INCHES...WITH 18 TO 24 INCHES
ABOVE 7000 FEET.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH. RIDGE
GUSTS UP TO 75 MPH.

* IMPACTS: REDUCED VISIBILITIES TO LESS THAN ONE HALF MILE AT
TIMES IN HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW. DRIFTING SNOW WILL CREATE
DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS...ESPECIALLY OVER SIERRA PASSES.
THE MONDAY MORNING COMMUTE WILL AFFECTED.

Here is a map of the expected snowfall




National Weather Service - Reno, NV

[dxiweodwo]

WOW, this is one hell of a storm!!! I wish I was there

[bob rulz]

Originally Posted by dxiweodwo

WOW, this is one hell of a storm!!! I wish I was there

That's pretty normal for Tahoe really.

[dxiweodwo]

Originally Posted by bob rulz

That's pretty normal for Tahoe really.

Yeah, I know. Which is why I wish I was there!!!

[bob rulz]

Originally Posted by dxiweodwo

Yeah, I know. Which is why I wish I was there!!!

Touche.

[mattyj46]

Just a quick update, just about to go uptown so I'll give a more detailed one when I get back.

An updated expected snowfall:



A look at the current warnings



Winter Storm warning:

...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS REMAINS IN
EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 PM PST MONDAY FOR THE SOUTHERN
SIERRA NEVADA AND TEHACHAPI MOUNTAINS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS REMAINS IN
EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 PM PST MONDAY FOR THE SOUTHERN
SIERRA NEVADA AND TEHACHAPI MOUNTAINS...

A STRONG AND VERY COLD PACIFIC STORM SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO MOVE
INTO THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR THIS EVENING...BRINGING
HEAVY SNOWFALL TO THE MOUNTAINS.

TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 FEET ARE LIKELY FROM 4000 FEET
AND ABOVE IN THE SOUTHERN SIERRA...WITH 8 TO 14 INCHES AT THE
4000 FOOT LEVEL IN KERN COUNTY. GUSTY WINDS OVER HIGHER
ELEVATIONS AND THROUGH PASSES WILL ALSO CREATE AREAS OF BLOWING
AND DRIFTING SNOW.

ALTHOUGH SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO DIMINISH BY MONDAY EVENING...
UNSETTLED WEATHER WILL CONTINUE OVER THE MOUNTAINS INTO MIDWEEK...
WITH ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO
POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

A link to a few webcams around the area
Reno Webcams - Webcams of Reno Locations

My personal favourite is the US50 at S. Lake Tahoe, dead in town, get a good feeling for the scene there.

[mattyj46]

Snow has now made its way into the Valley Floors in Washoe County, lightly snowing in Reno at an elevation of 4599 ft.