If you’ve lived in the Truckee Meadows for more than a week, you know the drill. You wake up to a windshield covered in a thick layer of frost, but by 2:00 PM, you’re reconsidering that heavy parka because the sun is actually doing its job. Reno is famous for that high-desert mood swing. Right now, everyone is asking about the reno 30 day weather forecast because, honestly, the sky has been acting a bit suspicious lately. We’re sitting in that mid-January sweet spot where the "Biggest Little City" is trying to decide if it wants to be a winter wonderland or a dry, sunny hiking destination.
Right now, as of January 16, 2026, it is currently 31°F and sunny in Reno. There’s a tiny 2 mph breeze coming out of the north, which makes it feel crisp but not exactly "bite your face off" cold. If you’re heading out today, expect a high of 50°F and a low of 30°F. It’s basically the definition of "layer up or regret it later."
The Next 10 Days: Clear Skies and Sneaky Chills
The immediate outlook for the next week and a half is surprisingly stable for this time of year. We aren't seeing any massive "Snowpocalypse" signals on the radar just yet. Tomorrow, Saturday, January 17, is looking like a carbon copy of today with a high of 50°F and a low of 32°F. It’ll stay sunny during the day, though it might get a little cloudy once the sun goes down.
By Sunday, things cool off a tiny bit. We’re looking at a high of 46°F under cloudy skies. There’s a very slim 10% chance of rain, but don't count on it to wash your car for you. The early part of next week—Monday through Wednesday—stays in that mid-to-high 40s range. If you’re planning a trip up to Mt. Rose or heading over to Tahoe, Wednesday night might bring a tiny dusting of snow, but the chance is low.
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The real shift happens toward the end of next week. Thursday, January 22, might see some actual flakes with a 15% chance of snow during the day and a high of 45°F. It’s not much, but in the desert, we take what we can get. Following that, the weekend of January 24 and 25 looks mostly cloudy with highs staying right around 44°F to 46°F.
What’s Actually Happening with the Reno 30 Day Weather Forecast?
Looking deeper into the month and heading into February, things get a bit more interesting. We are currently navigating a weak La Niña transition. What does that mean for your weekend plans? Basically, it means uncertainty is the only thing we can be certain about. Historically, a weak La Niña tends to favor the Pacific Northwest for the heavy-duty snow, but Reno often sits right on the edge of the storm tracks.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac and several long-range models suggest that while January might finish out fairly dry and cold, February 2026 could be a different beast. We're looking at a 30-day window where temperatures are expected to average around 37°F to 38°F, which is actually a few degrees warmer than our historical norms.
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Why the "Sierra Cement" Matters
When we do get precipitation in late January and early February, it often comes in the form of what locals call "Sierra Cement." Because our temperatures are hovering just around that freezing mark (lows of 28°F to 32°F), the snow that falls is often heavy, wet, and dense. It’s great for building a base at the ski resorts, but it’s a total pain to shovel. If you're looking at the reno 30 day weather forecast to plan a move or a big outdoor project, keep an eye on those overnight lows. When the humidity sticks around 50% to 60%, that moisture hangs in the air and turns into ice the second the sun drops behind the Peavine mountains.
The Reality of High Desert Winters
One thing people often get wrong about Reno is thinking it's "just like Vegas but colder." It’s way more complex than that. Our elevation (around 4,500 feet) means the sun is intense even when it’s freezing. You can get a sunburn and frostbite in the same afternoon if you aren't careful.
The 30-day trend shows us staying mostly dry through the end of January. While the Climate Prediction Center is leaning toward slightly "above normal" temperatures for the region, don't let that fool you. "Above normal" in Reno in January still means you're scraping your windshield at 7:00 AM.
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- Mid-January (Now): Sunny, highs in the 50s, lows in the 30s.
- Late January: Increasing cloud cover, small chances of snow (10-15%) around Jan 22-26.
- Early February: Potential for colder "snaps" as we move into a more active storm cycle.
If you’re a gardener or someone who cares about the local ecosystem, this dry spell is a bit concerning. We rely on that late-winter snowpack for our water supply in the summer. A dry January puts a lot of pressure on February and March to deliver the "Miracle March" storms we often see.
Survival Tips for the Next 30 Days
Since the forecast is looking mostly dry but chilly, your best bet is to focus on the "Reno Layering System." You need a base layer that wicks moisture, a mid-layer for warmth, and a windbreaker for those random gusts that come off the Sierras.
Keep an eye on the wind direction. When it’s coming from the East or North (like it is today at 2-5 mph), it’s usually bringing that cold, dry air. If you see it shifting to the West or Southwest, that’s often a sign that a moisture-heavy system is trying to push over the mountains from California.
Honestly, the best way to handle the reno 30 day weather forecast is to check it every single morning. In the high desert, a "mostly sunny" day can turn into a "why is it sideways snowing?" day in about twenty minutes.
To stay ahead of the weather over the next month, make sure your car is winter-ready with proper tire pressure and plenty of wiper fluid. If you're heading into the mountains, always carry chains, even if the valley looks bone-dry. The 30-day outlook suggests we’ll have plenty of clear driving days, but the transition into February is likely to bring some of those classic Sierra surprises.