Bright sky and late-spring foliage along South Carson Street on Thursday.
Photo by Scott Neuffer.
Carson City will see summer-like temperatures the last weekend of May before cooler weather sets in for the beginning of June, according to the National Weather Service.
The May 29 forecast showed a high of 93 degrees Fahrenheit for Friday and a high of 95 degrees for Saturday with a fire weather watch in place.
Temperatures were projected to drop to a high of 87 by Sunday and 82 by Monday before hitting 70s midweek on Friday morning, the mid-week forecast had temperatures back around 80 for mid-week.
“Southwest winds increase late Saturday into Sunday, bringing fire weather, travel, and recreation impacts,” said the NWS. “Isolated to scattered thunderstorms return Saturday through Tuesday, especially near the Sierra and into western Nevada.”
For Saturday in Reno, the NWS said, there is a 70 percent chance of tying or breaking the record high of 98 degrees.
“Reduce your risk to heat illness: hydrate, use sun protection, and limit peak heat exposure,” advised the NWS. “Keep in mind that swift, cold waterways will remain hazardous due to ongoing snowmelt runoff and are not a safe option for cooling off.”
The forecast said high pressure causing the heatwave will begin collapsing Sunday:
“A noticeable cool down arrives with temperatures dropping 10-20 degrees by early next week… Along with this pattern shift comes an uptick in southwest winds late Saturday into Sunday. Wind gusts 30 to 40 mph will result in impacts to recreation and bring fire concerns as well.”
On May 29, Northern Nevada Public Health’s (NNPH) Air Quality Management Division issued an air quality advisory for Washoe County.
“Ground-level ozone could reach unhealthy for sensitive groups today through the weekend,” according to NNPH. “Sensitive groups, which include all children, older adults, and those with asthma or other lung diseases, should limit outdoor exposure when the AQI (air quality index) reaches USG (101-150 AQI) for ground-level ozone.”
Air quality can be monitored at airnow.gov/?city=Reno&state=NV&country=USA.
Those heading south for the weekend should be careful as well.
“Temperatures Friday and Saturday will reach 104 to 108 in the Lake Mead Recreation Area, 100 to 105 in the western Mojave Desert including Barstow, and 103 to 109 in the valleys of Southern Nevada including Pahrump, Las Vegas and Moapa. Temperatures over 115 are likely in Death Valley,” reads an extreme heat warning from the NWS, in effect through Saturday night.
For information on wildfire prevention, go to livingwithfire.org.