Sunshine will return to the region Friday as we get between weather systems. High temperatures will still be on the chilly side (low 40s in Reno), but will warm to the low 50s on Saturday. Late Sunday, an approaching cold front will kick up some winds and warms us up to the mid-50s before the front passes, dropping our highs into the 30s with a chance of snow Monday and Tuesday. Overnight lows could fall into the teens early next week as well.

I realize that I risk being accused of closing the barn door after the cows have left, but if you haven’t already shut down and winterized your irrigation systems, you probably should do so.

The ability of an irrigation system to weather the winter depends in large extent on how the system was designed and installed. For some, winterizing consists simply of shutting off the water. Automatic drain valves buried beneath the ground will empty the pipes of water as soon as the pressure is taken off, and they should be good to go for the winter. For others, it’s a little more complicated. More tomorrow.