We haven't even hit our first cold front and flu levels are higher than they have been for all but one of the past five years. The most recent case was announced in a Gardnerville church on Sunday. I spoke with one man who said he lost his job after coming down with a confirmed case of swine flu. He had the flu when he was standing in front of his supervisor telling him he would have to go home. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the flu is widespread in Nevada. In our region, which includes Arizona and California, 37.2 percent of the people tested for the flu are coming back positive. That's the highest in the nation. The vast majority of those cases are H1N1. According to the CDC, the 2009-10 flu season officially begins Oct. 4.
A wind advisory is in effect today starting at 6 a.m. and lasting until 8 p.m. Winds are expected to increase at daybreak and continue through the evening at 25-35 mph with gusts of up to 55 mph. Wind prone areas could hit 65 mph. It has been dry, so expect blowing dust to create hazardous driving conditions, including on Highway 395 between Reno and Mammoth Lakes. A red flag warning remains in effect through 5 p.m. today as the cold front blows through.
Besides being windy, it will be cooler with a forecast high temperature of 67 degrees, which is only 5 degrees warmer than it was at 4 a.m. Expect isolated showers tonight with the wind decreasing. Wednesday will be even cooler with a high of 57 degrees. It's going to freeze Wednesday night with a low of 28 degrees. Expect another freeze on Thursday. Time to bring in the hoses and stocking firewood.
