Massive Cold Front To Dominate Our Weather - Dangerous Wind Gusts Likely
There is a very large storm well north of us that will be sending some very cold air our way today, tomorrow and Wednesday. Along with that cold air, we could see our windiest conditions in a number of years, especially on the leeward side of the Sierra in the foothills. Places like Galena Forest and Arrow Creek. Accompanying this cold front is a pretty nice sized winter snow storm. It will spill over and snow all the way to the valley floor, heavy at times after the cold front comes through late Tuesday. Take a look at Tuesday afternoon:
This snow event, which should bring 2-3 feet to the High Sierra, will last about 36 hours in the mountains. Here is a look at liquid precipitation levels:
The western side of the Northern Sierra around Lake Tahoe could receive as much as 4 inches of liquid precip. Mt. Rose could get 18-24 inches of nice light powder from this event. Wednesday morning could be quite a treat for those of you who can make it up the mountain.
Dangerous Winds Coming
Be aware, if you live in the foothills of western Reno winds are going to be dangerously high. Some gusts will exceed 125 mph. This type of wind can remove roof tiles and up root trees. Flying debris in this type of wind storm can act like shrapnel. If you live in these areas, stay in Monday afternoon and Tuesday.
National Weather Service Warning
The week ahead should remain snowy and wintry. The potential for significant precip stays in my forecast for the next couple of weeks. No April Fools joke here. Get ready for what might be winters last gasp and some great riding and skiing.
This snow event, which should bring 2-3 feet to the High Sierra, will last about 36 hours in the mountains. Here is a look at liquid precipitation levels:
The western side of the Northern Sierra around Lake Tahoe could receive as much as 4 inches of liquid precip. Mt. Rose could get 18-24 inches of nice light powder from this event. Wednesday morning could be quite a treat for those of you who can make it up the mountain.
Dangerous Winds Coming
Be aware, if you live in the foothills of western Reno winds are going to be dangerously high. Some gusts will exceed 125 mph. This type of wind can remove roof tiles and up root trees. Flying debris in this type of wind storm can act like shrapnel. If you live in these areas, stay in Monday afternoon and Tuesday.
National Weather Service Warning
A MAJOR WINTER WEATHER EVENT WILL BEGIN TODAY AS A DEEP LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM CIRCULATING IN THE GULF OF ALASKA PUSHES A STRONG
SHORTWAVE TOWARDS THE NORTHWESTERN STATES. GIVEN THE STRUCTURE AND
SET UP OF THE SHORTWAVE...EXTREMELY STRONG WINDS WILL OCCUR THIS
MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY...PEAKING TWICE WITH THIS SYSTEM. FIRST
PEAK WILL OCCUR THIS AFTERNOON AS IDEAL CONDITIONS DEVELOP FOR A
DOWNSLOPE WIND PATTERN. THE SECOND PEAK WILL OCCUR AHEAD OF THE
COLD FRONT WHICH WILL PASS THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. RIDGE WINDS
ARE ALREADY NEAR 100 MPH IN THE SIERRA WHILE AREAS IN WESTERN
NEVADA ARE GUSTING AROUND 35 MPH.
THERE REMAINS CONSISTENTLY VERY GOOD AGREEMENT IN THE HIGH RES AND
OPERATIONAL MODELS THAT A MOUNTAIN WAVE DRIVEN DOWNSLOPE WIND EVENT
WILL AFFECT AREAS IN THE LEE OF THE SIERRA TODAY...FROM SUSANVILLE
SOUTH TO COLEVILLE. STABLE CONDITIONS WILL EXIST AS THE AREA WILL BE
UNDER THE RIGHT EXIT REGION OF THE JET...WITH FLOW AT ALL LEVELS
PERPENDICULAR TO THE MOUNTAINS. THIS WILL SERVE TO ENHANCE THE
MOUNTAIN WAVE AND STRONG SURFACE WINDS IN THE LEE SIDE VALLEYS AND
POINTS EAST. SURFACE WIND GUSTS OVER 60 MPH ARE NOT OUT OF THE
QUESTION. ONE THING TO NOTE WITH THIS EVENT IS THAT IT WILL BE LONG
LIVED AS COMPARED TO STRONG WIND EVENTS IN THE PAST. WINDS WILL NOT
TAPER OFF UNTIL WELL AFTER THE COLD FRONT HAS PASSED THROUGH TUESDAY
AND THE HEAVIER PRECIP MOVES IN. The week ahead should remain snowy and wintry. The potential for significant precip stays in my forecast for the next couple of weeks. No April Fools joke here. Get ready for what might be winters last gasp and some great riding and skiing.