Red flag warning today, chance of snow

The weather forecast for this week contains the possibility of both fire and ice depending on the altitude.

A red flag warning is in effect 2-9 p.m. today as a low pressure system brings in south to southwest winds of 15-25 mph with gusts of up to 35 mph.

The storm will bring unseasonable cool weather to the area on Thursday with a snow level of 9,500 feet.

Forecasters are predicting a chance of light accumulations of snow over the highest peaks on Friday morning.

Overnight lows in high Sierra valleys will drop to near freezing, according to the National Weather Service.

Thunderstorms may develop on Thursday and Friday for eastern California and western Nevada.

A new round of thunderstorms could mean a repeat of the weather experienced in the area on Friday, which knocked out power to 1,088 customers in Gardnerville and Minden for two hours.

Lightning struck two power poles in northern Carson Valley, tripping the power off at about 5 p.m.

Power company spokesman Karl Walquist said the circuit came back on and then at 5:30 p.m. tripped off again and wasn't restored until 7:22 p.m.

Crews had to replace two power poles damaged by the lightning strike on Heybourne Road, north of Stephanie Lane.

Walquist said there were other smaller, scattered outages in the Carson Valley on Friday due to lightning strikes.