Reno itself sits in a high-desert valley with cold nights and occasional snow, but the roads that connect it with California cross the Sierra. A winter storm there decides whether a long-distance move runs on time. This guide covers what changes between December and March for moves inside the valley and for moves that cross the mountains.
Check the passes
The two sources most people use are the Nevada Department of Transportation's road-conditions site, NVRoads, and Caltrans, which publishes chain-control requirements for California highways. Chain controls come in levels, and vehicles without chains may be turned back. A moving truck in a chain control often needs chains on its drive wheels, which slows the whole trip.
The National Weather Service office in Reno posts forecasts and winter-storm watches for the Sierra and for the Reno area. Check them the day before and on the morning of the move.
Build slack into the schedule
Your delivery window comes from your written estimate. In winter, treat that window as a range, not a date, and keep your own plans flexible: a spare night in your old home, a hotel booking you can change, and a few days of clothes in the car. Ask the estimator how a storm delay would be handled, and what happens to your goods if the road closes.
Storage in transit as a backup
If a pass closes or the new home is not ready, goods can wait. Storage in transit holds a shipment in a warehouse until delivery can go ahead. Read what is storage in transit for how it works, and see short-term storage between moves at O'Brien's Sparks warehouse.
Snow and ice at the house
- Shovel and salt or sand the driveway, steps and walk before the crew arrives.
- Clear a place where the truck can park, and ask neighbors to keep cars off the street.
- Put floor runners or cardboard down so wet boots do not slip or track water inside.
- Keep the heat on at both homes so pipes stay safe and furniture adjusts slowly.
- Let delicate items such as wood furniture, electronics and instruments warm to room temperature before use.
Winter at Lake Tahoe
Moves to and from Truckee, Incline Village and the South Shore face more snow and steeper roads than the valley. Read moving at Lake Tahoe in winter and winter driving and chain control before you pick a date.
Pick the day with care
Mid-week days often have lighter traffic on the roads, and mornings give more daylight and more room to adjust. If your date is flexible, leave early in the week so a storm on the weekend does not catch the move. For a month-by-month view of the weather, see moving in Reno in January and the best time of year to move.