If you were hoping for a gentle dusting of snow and a few picturesque flurries to sip your cocoa by, I regret to inform you that the National Weather Service has other plans. A Winter Weather Advisory is now in effect, which is bureaucratic lingo for “hold onto your hats—literally.”
Accompanying this frosty delight is a High Wind Watch, set to begin Sunday morning and stretch through the night, with gusts reaching 60 mph in most areas and up to 100 mph on Sierra ridges. At that point, it ceases to be mere wind and starts resembling divine punishment.
Ski resorts have wisely chosen not to participate in this airborne rodeo, with chairlifts on hold before some unfortunate tourist achieves an unexpected flight. Meanwhile, Washoe Valley has become a scene of daring adventure, where only the bold (or the foolhardy) dare tread. And big rigs in Fernley have taken on the admirable practice of non-violence by refusing to move.
As we move into Monday, expect valley rain and Sierra snow above 7,500–8,000 feet, with 1–3 inches of precipitation piling up between Lassen and Plumas counties. By Monday night, temperatures will drop, bringing the snow level down to about 6,000 feet and depositing a fresh 1–2 inches at the Sierra crest.
For those living in the valleys of western Nevada, Tuesday night may bring the charming sight of snowflakes drifting lazily from the heavens—followed shortly by the less charming experience of skidding through an icy intersection on Wednesday morning. And for those above 7,000 feet, I hope you like shoveling because 2–3 feet of sno
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