Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Kirkwood, CA

DISCUSSION

Today is the last in a series of warm, spring-like days before a distinct weather pattern change ushers in a period of stormy and much cooler weather over the weekend. The culprit behind the sudden weather change is a deepening upper low that traverses across the western states over the weekend but stays south of the region. As the upper low passes, it'll bring periods of mountain snow and valley rain, increased chances of thunderstorms, breezy winds, and unseasonably cooler temperatures/hard freezes.

Mountain snow showers begin as early as Friday afternoon before heavier snow arrives during the overnight hours into Saturday AM.
This is the period (late Friday night through Saturday morning) when most of the snow will fall in the Sierra, White Mountains, and mountains of southern Lyon and Mineral counties, and thus is when travel disruptions are most likely. Given that it's late April and roadways are warm following several days of spring warmth, it'll be very difficult for snow to accumulate on roads during the daytime. A few heavier snow/pellet showers may be able to provide light accumulations locally Saturday afternoon. Snow showers will wrap up Sunday morning, bringing snow totals to 1-3" for lower Sierra communities (e.g., Truckee, South Lake), 3-6" along Sierra passes and Mammoth Lakes, and up to 8-12" along highest peaks of the Sierra, White Mountains, and S. Lyon/Mineral County mountains.
Elsewhere, a dusting to an inch may result in minor travel impacts for foothill areas above 5500 feet (Virginia City). It's a good idea to get any weekend traveling done today or Friday AM, or be prepared for slick roads and delays if you must travel this weekend.

Lower western Nevada valleys will likely see periods of light rain over the weekend with 10-20% chance of isolated thunderstorms Friday and Saturday afternoons. Strongest thunderstorms will be capable of brief heavy downpours, gusty outflows, and occasional lightning.
It'll also be noticeably cooler this weekend, especially on Saturday when daytime highs only reach the 40s and 50s. Temperatures will approach freezing Saturday night, so be sure to protect sensitive vegetation. We'll warm up and dry out in earnest early next week with showers and thunderstorms possibly returning by midweek.

-Salas

AVIATION

Widespread VFR conditions and breezy afternoon winds continue through the rest of the day. Periods of MVFR/IFR conditions, afternoon thunderstorms, LLWS, and mountain wave turbulence expected Friday through Sunday.

-Salas

REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories
NV...Winter Weather Advisory from 5 PM Friday to 11 AM PDT Sunday NVZ001-002.

CA...Winter Weather Advisory from 5 PM Friday to 11 AM PDT Sunday CAZ072-073.