A winter storm system moving into the Sierra will produce heaving winds Sunday, prompting a High Wind Warning for the Carson City region by the National Weather Service.
For Sunday, winds will be from the southwest, 30 to 40 mph with gusts of 70 mph or higher in wind prone areas. High profile vehicles should avoid wind prone areas. The warning area includes, Carson Valley, Dayton, Virginia City and Reno and Sparks areas.
Interstate 80 through Washoe Valley will be especially gusty, according to the weather service. Forecasters advise to secure loose outdoor furniture and trash cans. Bring in the pets, charge up the smart devices and have flashlights and batteries or candles in the event of a power outage.
Meanwhile there is a Winter Storm Warning in place for Lake Tahoe and Sierra. Snow levels be down to lake level for Tahoe that will generally remain steady through Sunday afternoon with some fluctuation during any letup in heavier precipitation, according to the weather service.
Snow accumulations expected: Two feet above 7,000 feet with up to 3 feet near the Sierra Crest; 10 to 18 inches for South Lake Tahoe, 8 to 16 inches at Truckee and 15 to 20 inches along Highway 89.
Breaks in precipitation could occur Sunday although snow will likely remain steady and never really stop along and west of Highway 89. This could allow for snow to mix with rain at times during lighter snow periods. Farther south into Mono County, snow will stick close to the Sierra Crest with little if any accumulation down to Highway 395 through Sunday as strong shadowing remains intact along the eastern Sierra.
As the main trough and upper jet push into the northern Sierra late Sunday, a colder and more unstable airmass will gradually slide south Sunday night and allow for some precipitation to spill over into western Nevada, in the I-80 and Highway 50 corridor after midnight, and across Mono and Mineral counties around daybreak Monday.
Snow levels will likely fall to near valley floors as the precipitation winds down, however accumulations are going to be limited with a few inches possible in the foothills to little or no accumulation below 5,000 feet, according to the weather service. Go here for the latest weather discussion.