The sun is shining but it's still cold in parts of Northern Nevada and California. This is because of a northeast wind cutting in between a high to our northwest and a low to our southeast. This is the beginnings of a Rex Block, which really won't take shape until Saturday. A Rex Block is a weather pattern that includes a low over the southwestern United States and a ridge over the Pacific Northwest. The flow around the low is counter clockwise, and clockwise around the high. This creates an east wind in our area, that amplifies as it reaches Tahoe. Usually our winds come out of the west, down sloping in the Reno area, and reaching strong speeds, but this weather pattern is the opposite, favoring an east wind. A High Wind Warning is in place for the western slope of the Sierra through 5pm Friday, and a Lake Wind Advisory is posted for the Tahoe Basin through 5pm Friday as well. Wind gusts topped 70mph at Palisades, elevation 8,643’ on Thursday.
Wind speeds won’t be as strong as they have been earlier in the week, but waters will still be choppy. Waves could reach as high as three feet at Tahoe on Friday. The difference in pressure and temperatures between the high and low will lessen over the next couple of days, lowering wind speeds.
As the ridge and Rex Block takes over this weekend, temperatures will be able to warm. Highs will be in the lower to mid 60’s on Saturday and Sunday, but closer to seventy degrees early next week. The forecast is trending active again by the end of the month, so enjoy the mild, sunny, weather while it’s here.
