Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Reno, NV

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550
FXUS65 KREV 301855
AFDREV

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
1155 AM PDT Thu Jul 30 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Hot and dry conditions prevail through next week, with triple
  digit heat to lower valleys Friday and Saturday.

* Areas of haze and smoke from current active fires could reduce
  air quality at times across parts of northwest and west central
  NV, with patchy smoke near and east of the Elephant Fire.

* Typical afternoon winds are expected each day, producing short
  periods of elevated fire weather concerns in isolated areas.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

The heat goes on as July rolls into August, with temperatures
climbing to 100 degrees or above across most valleys of western NV
and eastern CA Friday and Saturday. While the dry air mass and
clear skies will allow for decent cooling in most areas, parts of
west central NV, especially near and east of US-95 and along
sections of US-50, will see warmer nights this weekend with lows
in the upper 60s-lower 70s. In these sites with the warmer nights,
HeatRisk levels tilt into the Major category so the Heat Advisory
will remain in place Friday afternoon through early Sunday. Sierra
communities can expect highs around 90 degrees through Saturday.

Afternoon SW-W breezes will continue near typical zephyr-type
levels for most days through this weekend, with gusts mainly near
25 mph and isolated short-duration gusts to 30 mph near and north
of I-80. When combined with continued low afternoon humidity and
poor overnight recovery especially for western NV midslopes and
thermal belts, expect elevated fire weather concerns during these
afternoon breezy periods. Given the wind pattern and current fire
activity, areas affected by smoke and haze at times through Friday
include far northwest NV/Surprise Valley (from fires in Oregon),
eastern Churchill County (from the New Pass Fire), and the valleys
north of Reno-Sparks (from the Elephant Fire).

For Sunday-Monday, the high pressure ridge center retreats a bit
farther southeast to the Four Corners region in response to a
upper trough passage across the Pacific NW, leading to a slight
2-4 degree reduction in high temperatures for lower elevations.
Even with this dip below heat advisory levels, we`ll still be
above average for early August, while areas near the Sierra show
little or no cooling through early next week.

For the remainder of next week, the blended guidance favors a
return to triple digit heat across more lower elevation sites. The
amount of warming will depend on how north the ridge is able to
expand from the Four Corners/southwest US, or if additional
shortwave/trough passages across the Pacific NW are able to limit
this northern expansion. In either case, the dry weather pattern
remains locked in place with typical PM breezes most days,
although blended guidance hints at potential increased breezes
around the middle of next week. MJD

&&

.AVIATION...

VFR conditions continue for all terminals through at least this
weekend, with daily afternoon SW-W wind gusts 20-25 kts mainly
between 21z-04z. With temperatures peaking Friday-Saturday
afternoons, density altitude concerns increase for the western NV
terminals. MJD

&&

.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Heat Advisory from noon Friday to 8 AM PDT Sunday NVZ001-004.

CA...None.
&&

$$