Windy Sunday will bring cooler weather for week

Gusty winds will herald a transition in the weather from the last few nice days.

Southwest winds of around 20 mph before lunchtime today, gusting to 30-40 mph are forecast to blast through Carson Valley.

A lake wind advisory is in effect at Lake Tahoe through 11 p.m. today with 2-4-feet waves and winds gusting to 45 mph.

Light showers aren’t predicted to arrive until early Monday morning with a snow level of 8,500 feet dropping to 7,400 feet after midnight.

Winds are expected to hit 80-90 mph this afternoon in the Sierra Ridges.

Forecasters suggested it’s a good idea to prepare outdoor Halloween decorations for windy conditions.

East Fork firefighters issued a list of safety concerns during the Halloween season, including using a battery-operated candle or a glow stick in jack-o’-lanterns instead of a candle.

“Decorations are the first thing to ignite in more than 800 reported home fires each year,” according to the National Fire Protection Association. “Nearly one-third of these fires were started by a candle.”

While the forecast doesn’t include much precipitation over the week, Halloween is predicted to be rainy.

According to the National Weather Service, the first blast on Monday is forecast to result in a tenth of an inch. The next storm is forecast to arrive on Wednesday night in time for Halloween.

Snow levels are anticipated to drop to 5,100 feet on Monday night which might result in some snow over the passes.

Temperatures are expected to top out around the mid-50s by mid week with lows in the middle to lower 20s through the week.