Month to date precipitation for July is 0.00 inches.  Year to date precipitation for water year 2008-2009 beginning October 1 is 7.15 inches.

For the most current weather observations in Carson City, NV updated every 15 minutes, CLICK HERE.

SHORT TERM:

The ridge that has been over the area will start to slowly shift east allowing for a stronger southwest flow over the area.  Under sunny skies, winds will be rather gusty this afternoon out of the southwest at 15-30 mph.  Highs today and Sunday will be in the upper 80s to low 90s.  Forecast models have backed off on the depth and strength of the trough, but still have a general southwest flow pattern over the area for the next several days.  As the trough moves into the Pacific Northwest, expect temperatures to cool on Monday and Tuesday with highs in the low to mid 80s.  Lows at night will be cooler in the upper 40s to around 50.  In all, expect rather benign sunny weather for the next several days with gusty afternoon winds each day.  A warming trend may occur by the end of next week as the ridge begins to rebuild into the area.

LONG TERM:

Dry weather is expected over the next 7-10 days.  Typical afternoon winds will continue each day with no thunderstorms or precipitation expected for the period.  An monsoonal moisture will remain well south and east of the area for now.  Temperatures will remain near normal with a gradual warming trend as noted above as a ridge begins to build over the area.

On a side note, it appears the La Nina conditions experienced of the last two years appears to be decreasing.  At this time, ENSO Neutral or even possible weak El Nino conditions appear to be developing over the Pacific.  A lot of monitoring will be needed over the next few months to determine the potential for an El Nino event this winter, but many models are suggesting that a weak to moderate El Nino may develop as we go into the fall and winter months.  At this time, there are a couple of things working against this event to become a significant El Nino such as the current multi-decadal negative (cool phase) PDO and the ongoing negative ONI index having values that would favor more ENSO neutral conditions.   Hopefully this will not be similar to the 2006/2007 winter where a developing El Nino was stopped dead in it's tracks in December and we quickly returned to La Nina conditions.  That winter provided much of the area with some of the driest winter weather conditions on record.  We'll see.  The latest outlook, updated on a weekly basis, can be found at the this link (ENSO/El Nino Outlook).

R. Sandberg

Disclaimer:  This weather outlook is intended for informational purposes only.  Please consult the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Reno for additional updates and weather forecasts as conditions warrant for this area.

Skywarn Spotter Program and  the Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP) are courtesy of NOAA
and the National Weather Service.

CONTACT INFO:  carsonspotter@earthclimate.info

Satellite image courtesy of NOAA Satellite Information Service.  For the latest loop, click here.