Clear day to finish shopping -- then back to familiar clouds

Today is expected to be mostly sunny -- a great chance to go out and enjoy the snow without getting blasted by icy winds or to finish your last-minute gift shopping.

Temperatures will be a bit warmer, according to National Weather Service forecasts -- but not much higher than 30 degrees.

Sledders up Kings Canyon were shouting and laughing under endless blue skies as sunshine lit up the bright, white hills.

"Today's a beautiful Sunday," said Bill Pence of Carson City. He was sledding with his young son Jacob and three dogs. "We had some snow last night, but it's cleared up today. There's no wind, but it's cool enough to keep the snowpack for a little while," he said.

Jacob approached on a sled, yelling, "Here I come, look out!" as he cruised past.

Forecasters expect today's clear skies to last until midnight, when clouds should roll in. Nighttime lows will drop to about 10 degrees above freezing.

"It could be a little chilly," said meteorologist Jim Fischer with the National Weather Service in Reno.

It will be cold, but still dry.

"The next chance of any precipitation up in the mountains is on Tuesday," said Fischer.

For Tuesday, it's back to the familiar partly cloudy with temperatures in the upper 30s. There is a slight chance of snow showers expected for Tuesday night, which could make for a classic white Christmas Eve.

However, this does not mean another foot of snow for Carson City or another 30 power poles down in Minden.

"It's nothing to be concerned about," said Fischer.

And for Christmas Day, there may be another slight chance of snow falling from partly cloudy skies. Winds will pick up a bit, and temperatures will be somewhere in the upper 30s.

That trend -- increasing temperatures and a higher chance of precipitation -- will continue into Thursday, when snow or even rain could fall and highs could reach the 40s.

Information

For highway conditions, call (877) 687-6237

or go online at: www.nvroads.com

On the radio, in Carson City, tune into to 1610 am; in Reno or Lake Tahoe, tune in to 530 am.

Nation Weather Service online: http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/Reno/