The climate varies considerably in the state. The extreme south (Vegas) is Mojave desert, very hot and dry summers, moderate winters. As you move north, elevation picks up quickly, modifying things. Winters become erratic. Count on at least a week near/below zero at night, and often daytime too. But it's usually sunny and very dry, so it's not noticeable (relatively) unless the wind is blowing. But it may be balmy, light coat/jacket weather a week later. Snowfall is extremely erratic. Higher elevations and farther from the sierra gets more. Reno is right against the sierra, so it can get a bit more than Winnemucca. Spring is a bit rainy, very windy. Fall doesn't really exist. Summer is not as hot as Vegas, varies from 80's to occasionally around 100. But 4000+ ft elevation and very dry air makes it pleasant.
I grew up in Columbus Ohio. Trust me, there is ABSOLUTELY no way to compare what you're used to in VA to NV. Outside of the extreme south/Vegas, it's high desert......hot cold WINDY DUSTY. Sagebrush dominates. Something like 87% of the state is owned by the Federal Government. A lot of the private land is Railroad grant land, and is essentially free roaming ground also: In something like a 26 mile swath along the RR right of way (basically I-80), every other square mile was given to the RR to encourage them to bring the rails west. The stretch from Reno to Minden/Gardnerville is much more developed, sitting right at the transition from Sierra Mts to high desert. Great mix of city life , mountains, desert, gambling, skiing........San Francisco is about 3 1/2 hrs away. No state income tax. The small towns are a world unto themselves. Remote and tiny. But then Winnemucca, Battle Mountain and Elko are on I-80, and are mining towns. Northern NV produces 5+ million ounces of gold annually, from large scale open pit mines, and increasingly underground operations. So there is a surprising amount of good paying jobs both at mines and support industries. Mining also brings in geologists, engineers, metallurgists etc, so the cultural diversity is a bit greater than non-mining small towns. Not sure how sustainable the big mining industry is, long term. It's been going for 20+ years now, and few discoveries are being made.
I've been in Winnemucca since '89, so Reno is a bit too crowded for me. But when I first flew in years ago, I thought "Is that it? That's not a city!" For someone coming from the East, Reno will be a shock, but you'll acclimate quickly. It's a very livable town. Go straight to rural NV, and you might freak out if not totally prepared! Vegas is not NV. It's Vegas. Good luck!
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