Cold beginning to 2022 in Carson Valley

2022 dawned frosty and clear this morning in Carson Valley, but not quite as chilly as forecast.

While typically cold settles along the river in the valley, it seemed the mountains got the really low temperatures with the NDOT Station at Leviathan Mine Road recording a minus 4-degree coldest temperature in Douglas County at 7:18 a.m.

Anglers celebrating fishing at Topaz Lake saw temperatures around 7 degrees at 7 a.m. on New Year’s Day.

Foothill resident Jeff Garvin reported a low of 9 degrees, which is the same temperature noted a mile north of Genoa.

Minden-Tahoe Airport’s automated weather system reported a low temperature of 10 degrees overnight.

The tropical spot in Carson Valley appeared to be the base of Kingsbury which recorded a low of 13 degrees at 6:36 a.m., which was the same temperature Gardnerville hit.

Stateline dropped down to 7 degrees this morning after revelers enjoyed a relatively mild 17 degrees at midnight.

The low temperature on Jan. 1, 2020, was 26 degrees in Minden, where records have been kept since 1906.

For the first time in more than a week there isn’t a single chain or snow tire requirement in Douglas County. Chains or snow tires with four-wheel drive are required on Highway 88 over Carson Pass, but both Highway 50 and Interstate 80 are showing clear this morning.

Today is forecast to be mostly sunny with a high of 33 degrees and the wind picking up out of the north at 5 mph.

Tonight’s low is forecast to drop to 8 degrees in Minden before temperatures begin to climb out of the cellar on Sunday, with the high hitting 40 degrees.

Precipitation returns to the forecast on Monday night with a chance of rain and snow through Tuesday night, when snow levels are expected to rise to 7,200 feet, perhaps bringing some localized flooding as the snow on the Valley floor melts.