Stanley asks: "Can you please explain why we have these incessant afternoon/evening winds? I live in downtown Reno facing the west and cannot sunbathe in peace on account of the always dependable spoiler winds."
When the sun drops in the west, it heats the face of the hills on the east side of the valley (angled toward the setting sun) more than the face of the hills on the western side of the valley (which are angled away from the sun). The hotter air on the east side of the valley rises, and the cooler air on the west side of the valley descends. This creates a conveyor-belt-like effect as the descending air piles into the valley and rushes east to replace the air escaping upward. And technically speaking, the hotter eastern hills' temperature does create a thermal low, but on a much smaller scale than the regional thermal low out near Fallon.
This 'Washoe Zephyr' isn't unique to our valley. Well, the name is, but the same thing happens anywhere you have similar get a similar combination of geography and sunshine.
Mike can be reached at email@example.com.