Travel over the mountains this weekend will be quite a challenge. A Winter Storm Warning goes into effect in the mountains starting at 10 pm Saturday and it lasts 36 hours until 10 am Monday morning. Total mountain snowfall is difficult to be very precise about because the snow levels will start out very high (8,000’+) and will drop late Saturday night/Sunday morning to below Lake Tahoe elevation, and could come close to the Valley floor by then. Overall, snow amounts ranging from 1-3 feet or more in the upper elevations are possible by Monday.

For the Reno area, a High Wind Warning goes into effect Saturday afternoon, with 65 mph gusts possible. These strong winds will create a pretty effecting rain shadow in the valley, but some spillover rainfall is likely, especially on the western side of the valley. Rainfall becomes more likely late Saturday night into Sunday, and some snow might mix in with the rain on Sunday. Showers will continue into Monday as the temperatures start in the 60s Saturday and will crash into the 40s Sunday and Monday.

A break Tuesday and Wednesday ends with another storm slated to arrive Thursday or Friday.