We have another mild an uneventful day coming up Thursday before the storm wagon gets rolling again. A low pressure center will slowly move in as we head into the weekend, bringing another chance of valley rain and mountain snow. For Thursday clouds out ahead of the low will cover western Nevada, but temperatures will stay mild (low-mid 50s) and we should stay dry. On Friday, a weak system splits off of the main low bringing a chance of valley rain and high elevation snow. On Saturday, the main part of the storm arrives, which will increase the chance of valley precipitation to the likely level, and will drop snow levels close to the valley floor, cooling us off to the 40s. Things then dry out Sunday.

Many have asked me what the difference between freezing rain and sleet is. Sleet is basically snow that starts to melt on the way down, and falls as a mix of rain and snow. Freezing rain is precipitation that has completely melted into rain on the way down, and then falls into cold air at the surface that is below freezing. This rain usually freezes rapidly as it hits the ground, and is perhaps the most dangerous winter weather pattern. How do you get it? I’ll tell you tomorrow.