Moving in March in Reno and Sparks

March is a transition month. The airport normals show highs near 59 F, and freezing mornings fall from 25.7 in January to 15.1. Late snow still arrives, but it usually melts the same day in the valley. Mountain towns are a different matter, and the pass rules from winter continue.

Melt, mud and wet doorways

With 0.8 inches of precipitation spread over about 5.5 days, March is damp rather than snowy in Reno. The practical problem is mud and slush on lawns, driveways and walkways. Lay down floor runners, and keep a mat at each door so the crew can wipe their feet.

At a new home that has just had a thaw, ask the seller or landlord to clear the walkway. At an old home, move cars out of the way so the truck can park near the door.

Clocks change and the day gets longer

Daylight saving time begins in March. On March 15 the sun rises at the warehouse about 7:12 am by the new clock and sets about 7:05 pm, which is 11.9 hours of daylight. The evening is long enough to finish unloading at the new house after a morning pickup.

Mind the lost hour on the weekend of the change when you set an arrival time.

School calendars and lease cycles

Many families plan around school breaks. Washoe County School District publishes every school's calendar on its website, so check your own school's spring break before you set a date. Moving during a break lets children avoid a mid-term school change.

Landlords sometimes list units for April 1, and tenants who give notice in March need the final week of the month cleared for cleaning and inspection.

Mountain moves in March

Truckee's ranger station still averages 32.2 inches of snow in March, with a high of 49.6 F and a low of 21.2 F. Chain controls can still be posted on Interstate 80. Caltrans tells drivers to stop and install chains when signs call for them.

Ask your estimator to schedule a Tahoe or Truckee delivery with weather in mind, and keep your phone on the day before.