A series of weather systems will reach the Sierra today and Thursday with light mountain snow and rain for the Carson City region. Another, active weather system could bring more snow to the Sierra late Friday night and Saturday with rain and gusty winds for the valleys, according to the National Weather Service.
The infrared satellite image above includes the 500 mb heights in green which are a close approximation of the jet stream over the north Pacific.
Also noted are the three low pressure systems to affect our area through this weekend. The first system will bring some light precipitation Wednesday with snow levels generally high and above 7000 feet. A second colder system will push through the Sierra and western Nevada on Thursday.
For Carson City, Carson Valley and Dayton, this means scattered showers into Wednesday night and showers likely on Thursday.
This system arriving Thursday has more moisture but will be moving quickly through the area. Snow levels will start high but fall behind the front Thursday evening. Several inches of snow are expected at Sierra passes around the Lake Tahoe Basin with an inch or two possible down to 6000 feet, including passes on Highway 395 through Mono County.
A third system in the northwest Pacific has abundant moisture associated with it, as highlighted in the yellow oval. Confidence is generally low with its track, and therefore snow levels and precipitation amounts are still uncertain. However, it should bring another round of precipitation to the region with strong gusty winds and valley rain Friday night into Saturday.
The last system will likely cause slick and snow covered roads over the Sierra along I-80, Highway 50, and State Route 88, 89 and 267.
A drying trend returns early next week as the stubborn ridge rebuilds along the West Coast, according to the weather service.