You’re probably thinking of Nevada as a scorched wasteland where the only thing hotter than the desert sun is the poker table you’re sitting at. Honestly, that's the first mistake people make when they ask what is the weather in reno nevada. Reno isn't Las Vegas. Not even close.
Sitting at 4,500 feet in the lee of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Reno is a high-desert animal with a split personality. One minute it’s a bluebird sky day that makes you want to hike the Hunter Creek Trail, and the next, a "Washoe Zephyr" wind is trying to relocate your patio furniture to the next county. If you’re checking the forecast for today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, you're looking at a classic winter vibe in the "Biggest Little City."
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The Current Vibe: Reno Nevada Weather Today
Right now, it’s a crisp, clear night. If you’re stepping outside, you’ll feel the bite of a 27°F air mass. There’s basically no wind—zero mph—coming from the west, and the humidity is sitting high at 82%. It’s still, cold, and honestly kind of beautiful if you’ve got a thick enough coat.
As we move through the rest of the day, here is the breakdown:
- High Temperature: We're hitting a respectable 51°F.
- Low Temperature: Expect it to bottom out at 25°F tonight.
- Sky Conditions: It’ll stay sunny for most of the daylight hours, though clouds will start creeping in as the sun goes down.
- Precipitation: There's a tiny 5% chance of snow during the day, which bumps up to 10% tonight. Don't expect a blizzard, but a stray flake or two isn't impossible.
- Wind: A light breeze from the west at about 1 mph.
Basically, it's a "layers" kind of day. The 26-degree swing between the high and low is standard operating procedure here.
The Rain Shadow and Why It Rarely Rains
You’ve heard of the "Rain Shadow Effect," right? It’s the reason Reno stays so dry while the mountains just 20 miles west get hammered with feet of snow. As storms roll off the Pacific, they hit the Sierra Nevada. The air rises, cools, and dumps all its moisture on the California side and the peaks. By the time that air reaches the Truckee Meadows, it’s dry and sinking.
That’s why Reno boasts over 300 days of sunshine a year. But don't let the sun fool you in January. The air is thin. When the sun drops behind Mt. Rose, the temperature doesn't just fall—it craters. You can easily see a 40-degree drop in a single afternoon.
That Infamous Washoe Zephyr
If you’re here in the summer, you’ll meet the Washoe Zephyr. Mark Twain wrote about it in Roughing It, calling it a "soaring dust-drift" that could swallow a town. It’s a thermally induced wind that kicks up almost every afternoon. As the Great Basin heats up, it sucks the cool mountain air down the eastern slopes. It’s predictable, it’s gusty, and it’s the reason why Reno locals never leave their umbrellas open on the porch.
Surviving a Reno Winter
January is officially the coldest month in Reno. While the average high is usually around 45°F, 2026 is giving us a slightly warmer 51°F today. Still, if you're driving, you need to be smart.
- Black Ice is Real: Because our days are sunny, snow melts. Because our nights are freezing, that melt turns into a glass-slick sheet of ice on the roads by 6:00 PM.
- The "Checkpoints": If you’re heading up I-80 toward Tahoe, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) doesn't play around. Chain requirements go into effect the second the slush starts sticking. If you don't have AWD and snow tires, keep a set of chains in the trunk.
- Humidity and Skin: At 82% humidity tonight, it feels damp-cold, but generally, Reno is an arid desert. Your skin will crack. Use more moisturizer than you think you need.
Actionable Next Steps for Today
If you’re in town right now, take advantage of that 51°F high. It’s perfect for a walk along the Riverwalk District downtown before the clouds roll in tonight. Just make sure you’re back inside or have a heavy parka ready by 4:30 PM. The drop to 25°F happens faster than you'd think. Check the NDOT "NVroads" app if you're planning to cross the pass, but for the valley floor, you're looking at a clear, easy winter Saturday.