RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Dawn Johnson, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Reno, said every long-range climate outlook she has analyzed points to the same conclusion for the winter.
“All of the long-range climate outlooks at this point are pointing wet for the winter, every single one,” Johnson said.
Johnson said Reno will be impacted this winter by what she calls a “super El Niño.”
“In 22 years of doing this, I have never seen that much agreement before,” Johnson said.
What a super El Niño is
Johnson described El Niño in terms of ocean and atmospheric circulations.
“This is referring to basically oceanic and atmospheric circulations that are coupled together. When we have a La Nina, we have certain conditions set up that we actually see colder than normal waters off the coast of South America. When we have an El Nino, the pattern shifts, and we actually have warmer water uprising and this blob of warm water off the coast of South America,” Johnson said.
Winter weather expected in coming days
Johnson said a winter weather pattern will sweep across the Truckee Meadows over the next few days. The pattern brings the potential for snowfall rates of 3 inches per hour in the Sierra on Friday night.
The conditions are expected to create dangerous travel conditions on roads. Chain controls are expected over mountain passes.
Travel preparation
Johnson said the best way to keep yourself and your family safe is to be prepared.
“You want to make sure you’re getting your travel done early, so if you are traveling across the Sierra, try to get that done by midday,” Johnson said.
Copyright 2026 KOLO. All rights reserved.
