Moving in October in Reno and Sparks

October is the turn toward winter. The first frosts reach the valley, afternoons are still pleasant at 70.4 F and the mountain passes begin to see their first snow, with Truckee averaging 2.8 inches. A move done in October is done before the holiday calendar and before chain season is in full swing.

The first freeze

With 5.4 mornings at or below freezing, October is the month when frost returns to windshields and shaded steps. The airport still records only about 0.1 inches of snow for the month. Dress warmly for the early hours and expect the afternoon to be comfortable.

Rain is up slightly from September at 0.5 inches over about 3 days, so keep floor protection and plastic sheeting ready for wet doors.

Shorter days

On October 15 the sun rises at the warehouse at about 7:08 am and sets at about 6:22 pm. The day is 11.2 hours long, an hour shorter than at the start of September. Daylight saving time ends in early November, which moves sunset earlier, so a late October job should plan to finish before the light fades.

Turn on exterior lights at the old and new home the night before.

Nevada Day and fall events

Nevada Day, a state holiday observed near the end of October, can create a long weekend. Ask your estimator whether local events could affect streets near your old or new address, especially in Carson City.

Halloween also affects residential streets in the evening, so plan the end of an October 31 job early.

Chain season begins

• Caltrans can post chain controls on mountain roads in the fall; R-1 is the lightest requirement and R-3 the heaviest.
• Check Nevada 511 for Nevada highways before a Tahoe or Truckee trip.
• Truckee's ranger station averages a 64.6 F high and a 27.5 F low in October.
• A move to a Tahoe home that closes in late October is best done before the first big storm.
• Read moving in winter in the Sierra for the next season.