Fourth red flag warning of season this weekend

The red flag iwent up for the fourth time in 2024 in Carson Valley at 5 a.m. today, three hours after a week-long excessive heat warning was finally canceled.

A red flag warning has been issued from 5 a.m. Saturday to 8 p.m. Sunday for thunderstorms and strong outflow winds across the Sierra Nevada.

“Lightning can create new fire starts and may combine with strong outflow winds to cause a fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity before first responders can contain them,” forecasters said.

Forecasters issued a special statement on Friday afternoon warning strong thunderstorms had developed over the Sierra and were steaming north.

“Mainly isolated thunderstorms formed Friday afternoon along the eastern Sierra but then were able to propagate northward across parts of Carson City and Reno before winding down north of Pyramid Lake during the evening,” National Weather Service Reno Meteorologist Mark Deutchendorf said early Saturday morning.

A few drops of rain fell in Carson Valley on Friday, but nothing measurable. The high temperature hit 100 degrees at Minden-Tahoe Airport, but cloud cover helped soften the heat across most of the Valley.

“Scattered showers and thunderstorms will redevelop again today   across much of the region with forcing provided by an upper low off the central California coast and southerly flow aloft bringing in deeper moisture,” Deutchendorf said. “A near-repeat scenario is expected for Sunday as these weather features show little movement.”

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A strong cluster of thunderstorms was spotted on Doppler radar nine miles southeast of Sonora Pass, the National Weather Service in Reno said at 3:15 p.m. Friday.

Strong thunderstorms are expected to affect central Mono, Alpine and El Dorado Counties through 4 p.m.

Storms are expected to bring wind gusts of up to 40 mph and pea-sized hail. Winds could knock down tree limbs and blow away unsecured objects.

The hail could do damage to gardens and other vegetation, according to the statement.

A few lightning strikes have been detected in the Carson Iceberg Wilderness.

Radar indicates a major cell heading north, bringing clouds to Carson Valley.

A red flag warning has been issued from 5 a.m. Saturday to 8 p.m. Sunday for thunderstorms and strong outflow winds across the Sierra Nevada.

“Lightning can create new fire starts and may combine with strong outflow winds to cause a fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity before first responders can contain them,” forecasters said.