Nevada's Weather: Rain in the North, Chill in the South

Nevada is getting a weather makeover this week. Two different systems are on their way, one for the north and one for the south. The north is gearing up for rain, wind, and even some snow in the Sierra. Meanwhile, the south is just getting a bit of a cool-down and some light showers. Reno is enjoying the upper 60s today, but things are about to change. By the weekend, temperatures will drop into the 50s. Las Vegas isn't escaping the chill either, with a slight cooldown on the horizon. Up north, an atmospheric river is expected to bring rain, wind, and a bit of snow to the Sierra and western Nevada. Rain totals could hit an inch around Lake Tahoe, with a quarter-inch in the valleys. Snow lovers might see 1 to 3 inches of slushy snow over high passes. Wind gusts could reach 45 mph on Saturday, with Sierra ridgetops near 100 mph. Down south, a cutoff low is bringing a slight chance of showers and isolated thunderstorms to some areas. Most places will stay dry, but temperatures will be a few degrees cooler. Wind gusts could reach around 30 mph across the western Mojave Desert on Saturday and Sunday, though the strongest winds will stay north of the Las Vegas Valley. Reno's weather for the week is a mix of cloudy, sunny, and rainy days. Tahoe is also in for a mix, with a chance of morning showers and breezy conditions. Las Vegas will stay mostly sunny but cooler by the weekend. An atmospheric river is like a river in the sky, transporting water vapor from the tropics. They can carry a lot of water, sometimes even more than the average flow of the Mississippi River.