Freezing temperatures due as snow enters forecast

With zero precipitation during October 2020, one of weather watchers’ main concerns from Fall 2020 was the lack of moisture before the snow flew.

That might change with wetter and cooler weather expected to arrive early Thursday and last through Friday and a possibility of snow falling in the mountains.

“Confidence is increasing in the chances for rain and high-elevation snow showers … into Friday,” according to a National Weather Service statement issued on Wednesday morning. “The best chances for wetting rains will be along the eastern Sierra into Western Nevada south of Interstate 80.”

Forecast rain could aid firefighters working on the Caldor Fire which is 93 percent contained.

Temperatures are expected to drop well into freezing over several days starting early Saturday morning.

“Potential continues to increase for an even colder air mass to drop into the region Monday and Tuesday,” forecasters said. “Widespread hard freezes are looking highly probably by the morning of Oct. 12. It may be time to say our final goodbyes to what is left of our gardens.”

That colder system could bring snow to the Valley floor early next week.

“There is still a wide range in the simulations where the best bet for precipitation will be but be prepared for snow ‘down here’ by Monday evening.”

Minden only received half of its average moisture during the 2020-21 water year with 4.16 inches of precipitation, according to Weather Watcher Stan Kapler.

November was the wettest month last year with 1.3 inches falling in the Douglas County seat, where records have been kept since 1906. December only

According to records kept by the National Weather Service, the water year was Carson Valley’s third driest in the last 115 years.

Despite more than a foot of snow falling in late January, the entire month only registered an inch of moisture, making it the second wettest month in an otherwise very dry year.