FXUS65 KREV 190909 AFDREV Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Reno NV 209 AM PDT Thu Mar 19 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... * Dominant high pressure continues to bring historic March warmth this week. * The warm temperatures have accelerated snowmelt, leading to rivers running fast and cold. * Dry and mild weather is favored through the weekend. A weak cold front this weekend will increase winds and slightly drop our temperatures. && .DISCUSSION... * It was another day of record high temperatures on Wednesday. We even set new monthly record high temperatures for both Reno and South Lake Tahoe. For additional information on the ongoing record March heatwave, including the new and previous records, please see the climate section at the bottom of the discussion. * A very strong high pressure ridge currently over southern CA/NV will slightly strengthen today as it drifts into central AZ. Lighter winds with less mixing may offset the ridge strength today with highs similar to yesterday, but a return of improved mixing should allow highs to increase an additional 1-3 degrees on Friday. These temperatures are upwards of 25-30 degrees above average. * This high pressure then slowly weakens this weekend as it continues to drift into southern NM by Sunday. Meanwhile, we'll have a weak trough and dry cold front move through the region Saturday into Sunday. With increasing gradients, will see an increase of west to southwest winds on Saturday, with possible impacts to local recreation and aviation. We'll cool around 4-8 degrees on Sunday, but temperatures will remain upwards of 15 degree above average. * As we head into next week, ensembles are now showing that high pressure will rebuild (instead of fully breaking down) over the western US on Monday and Tuesday. We are looking at more 80+ degree temperatures and daily record highs in western NV and the eastern Sierra those days. Precipitation chances have also decreased compared to prior guidance, with Monday-Tuesday now being mostly dry, while Tuesday night-Wednesday has a 10-20% chance for showers in NE CA and northern Washoe. Ensembles point to another weak trough and dry cold front moving through the area around late Tuesday into Wednesday. Once again, we'll see an uptick in winds and a decrease in temperatures, although likely remaining above average behind the front. - McKellar && .AVIATION... Benign weather remains the norm for most terminals through Friday, with light winds and VFR conditions dominating. KTRK is the lone outlier, facing a low-end risk of intermittent morning BR and FG. Warming will result in increased density altitude for the region. Anticipate some degradation in slantwise visibility during the morning hours due to haze lingering beneath sharp temperature inversions. -Johnston/McKellar && .CLIMATE... * Monthly record set at Reno: - Reno, NV: New record of 86F. The old monthly record was 83F on 3/31/1966 * Monthly record set at South Lake Tahoe: - South Lake Tahoe, CA: New record of 76F. The old monthly record was 71F on 3/30/2015 New daily record high temperatures and the previous daily record high temperatures for Reno and South Lake Tahoe: Date Reno NV South Lake Tahoe CA ---- ------------ ------------------- 3/17 82F (prev 78F in 2007) 69F (prev 65F in 2007) 3/18 86F (prev 77F in 1947) 76F (prev 63F in 2004) 3/19 77F in 1997 65F in 2015 3/20 81F in 2004 68F in 1997 3/21 80F in 2004 68F in 1997 ------------------------------------------------------- Current record warmest low temperatures for Reno and South Lake Tahoe (no new records so far): Date Reno NV South Lake Tahoe CA ---- ------------ ------------------- 3/18 47F in 1945 37F in 2021 3/19 46F in 2013 38F in 2013 3/20 47F in 2013 35F in 2013 3/21 46F in 2015 38F in 1972 ------------------------------------------------------- && .REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NV...None. CA...None. && $$