Alert archive / California / Winter Storm Warnings in 2009

Winter Storm Warning 3, NWS Reno, NV

March 21, 20095 counties in California; Douglas County, Washoe County, Nevada

NWS Reno, NV issued this winter storm warning at Mar 21, 2009, 4:12 AM PDT for 5 counties in California; Douglas County, Washoe County, Nevada. It took effect at Mar 21, 2009, 5:00 PM PDT. It was in force for 18 hr. 29 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Mar 21, 2009, 4:12 AM PDT (11:12 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 21, 2009, 5:00 PM PDT
Expired
Mar 22, 2009, 11:00 AM PDT
In force
18 hr
Issued by
NWS Reno, NV

Counties Alpine County, CA, El Dorado County, CA, Mono County, CA, Nevada County, CA, Placer County, CA, Douglas County, NV, Washoe County, NV

The radar

The Reno radar (KRGX), 92 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:12 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Mar 22, 5:30 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 16Incline Village, NV8 TO 16 INCHES IN LAST 24 HOURS AT DIAMOND PEAK SKI AREA.
Mar 22, 5:30 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 16Sierra-At-Tahoe Ski Are, CA11 TO 16 INCHES NEW SNOW IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.
Mar 22, 6:00 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 14Squaw Valley, CA12-14 INCHES NEW SNOW SINCE 3 PM YESTERDAY AT 8200 FEET, 1.02 INCHES LIQUID. 9-10 INCHES AT 6200 FEET.
Mar 22, 6:00 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 16Alpine Meadows, CANEW SNOW SINCE 3PM YESTERDAY AT 6800 FEET, 0.93 INCHES LIQUID EQUIVALENT. 22 INCHES MEASURED ON UPPER PORTION OF MOUNTAIN.
Mar 22, 6:03 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 153 Nw Truckee, CA12 TO 15 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN LAST 24 HOURS AT TAHOE DONNER SKI AREA.
Mar 22, 6:19 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 18Soda Springs, CA13 TO 18 INCHES OF NEW SNOW IN LAST 24 HOURS AT SODA SPRINGS SKI AREA.
Mar 22, 6:20 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 12Mount Rose Ski Area, NV8 TO 12 INCHES IN THE LAST 12 HOURS.
Mar 22, 6:20 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 185 W Truckee, CA18 INCHES NEW SNOW IN LAST 24 HOURS AT BOREAL SKI AREA.
Mar 22, 6:22 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 16Homewood, CA10 TO 16 INCHES NEW SNOW SINCE YESTERDAY.
Mar 22, 6:30 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 133 S Truckee, CA11-13 INCHES NEW SNOW SINCE YESTERDAY.
Mar 22, 7:53 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 8.51 Ne Incline Village, NVTOTAL SNOW SINCE 5 PM SATURDAY AT 6700 FEET. SNOW FELL EVENLY ON PAVED/UNPAVED SURFACES.
Mar 22, 8:11 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 124 W Prosser Creek Reser, CATOTAL SNOW SINCE SATURDAY EVENING AT TAHOE-DONNER AT 6500 FEET. CURRENTLY VERY LIGHT SNOW.
Mar 22, 8:11 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 15.51 Wnw Mammoth Lakes, CATOTAL SNOW SO FAR SINCE SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT 8200 FEET. STILL SNOWING MDT-HVY AT 8 AM.
Mar 22, 8:49 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 13.5Northstar, CA11-13.5 INCHES OF SNOW SINCE SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT NORTHSTAR SKI RESORT.
Mar 22, 8:49 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 15Mount Rose Ski Area, NV12-15 INCHES OF SNOW SINCE SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
Mar 22, 8:49 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 16Homewood, CA10-16 INCHES OF SNOW AT HOMEWOOD SKI RESORT SINCE SATURDAY AFTERNON.
Mar 22, 8:49 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 16Squaw Valley, CATOTAL SNOW SINCE SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT SQUAW VALLEY SKI RESORT. 10-12 INCHES AT 6200 FEET AND 14-16 INCHES AT 8200 FEET.
Mar 22, 8:49 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 195 Sw South Lake Tahoe, CA12-19 INCHES OF NEW SNOW SINCE SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT SIERRA-AT-TAHOE SKI RESORT.
Mar 22, 8:49 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 23Heavenly Valley, NV16-23 INCHES OF SNOW AT HEAVENLY SKI RESORT SINCE SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
Mar 22, 8:49 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 24Alpine Meadows, CA17-24 INCHES OF SNOW SINCE SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT ALPINE MEADOWS SKI RESORT.
Mar 22, 9:20 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 131 Nnw Meeks Bay, CATOTAL SNOW SINCE 5 PM SATURDAY AT TAHOMA AT 6340 FEET. CURRENTLY JUST LIGHT SNOW.
Mar 22, 10:11 AM PDTSNOW 63 Ssw South Lake Tahoe, CATOTAL SNOW ESTIMATE 6 INCHES. CURRENTLY LIGHT SNOW.
Mar 22, 10:11 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 121 Ssw South Lake Tahoe, CATOTAL OVERNIGHT SNOW ESTIMATED 10-12 INCHES AT CAMP RICHARDSON AT 6230 FEET.
Mar 22, 10:25 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 165 Sw South Lake Tahoe, CATOTAL SNOW SINCE SATURDAY NIGHT, MEASURED 16 INCHES AT 6400 FEET. CURRENTLY LIGHT SNOW.
Mar 22, 10:30 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 10.53 S Boca Reservoir, CATOTAL SNOW SINCE SATURDAY NIGHT MEASURED AVERAGE SNOW AT 10.5 INCHES.
Mar 22, 10:30 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 10.53 Sse South Lake Tahoe, CATOTAL SNOW FALL IS 10.5 INCHES SINCE SATURDAY NIGHT. SNOW IS COMPACTING AND MELTING FAST SO IT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE PRIOR TO MEASUREMENT AT 1030AM. CURRENTLY PARTLY CLOUDY AND NOT SNOWING.
Mar 22, 10:30 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 183 Ene Alpine Meadows, CATOTAL SNOW FALL SINCE SATURDAY NIGHT WAS ESTIMATED AT 16-18 INCHES AT 7000 FEET. CURRENTLY LIGHT SNOW, BROKEN CLOUDS AND 23F.
Mar 22, 10:30 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 184 Wsw Prosser Creek Res, CATOTAL SNOW SINCE SATURDAY NIGHT AT 6600 FEET WAS ESTIMATED 18 INCHES. CURRENTLY LIGHT SNOW.
Mar 22, 10:37 AM PDTHEAVY SNOW 253 Se Alpine Meadows, CATOTAL SNOW FALL AT 6800 FEET WAS 25 INCHES AT 1037 AM. 17 INCHES REPORTED AT 0530 AM WITH 1.89 INCHES WATER EQUIVALENT WITH ADDITIONAL 5 INCHES MORE SNOW BRINGING TOTAL TO SNOW TO 25 INCHES. CURRENTLY LIGHT SNOW.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Reno, NV (KREV), launched 00:00Z, 11.2 hours before the alert went out and 166 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Reno, NV at 00:00Z on 2009-03-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Reno, NV at 00:00Z on 2009-03-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 4 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
3784 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
4 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
64 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WWUS45 KREV 211112
WSWREV

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
412 AM PDT SAT MAR 21 2009

...PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW IN THE SIERRA TONIGHT THROUGH
SUNDAY...

.A FAST MOVING STORM WILL DRIVE A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE REGION
TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING. A PERIOD OF MODERATE TO HEAVY
SNOWFALL WILL ACCOMPANY THE FRONT IN THE SIERRA...WITH MUCH COLDER
TEMPERATURES AND SNOW SHOWERS FOR SUNDAY.

SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND GUSTY WINDS WILL CREATE
DANGEROUS WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS IN THE SIERRA. IF YOU HAVE
TRAVEL PLANS IN THE SIERRA TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING...EXPECT
LENGTHY DELAYS. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AT
WEATHER.GOV/RENO OR LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO.

CAZ072-NVZ002-212300-
/O.UPG.KREV.WS.A.0003.090322T0000Z-090322T1800Z/
/O.NEW.KREV.WS.W.0003.090322T0000Z-090322T1800Z/
GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SOUTH LAKE TAHOE...TRUCKEE
412 AM PDT SAT MAR 21 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
11 AM PDT SUNDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 11 AM PDT SUNDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER
IN EFFECT.

* SNOW WILL BEGIN BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON...AND CONTINUE THROUGH
  SUNDAY MORNING. A PERIOD OF HEAVY SNOWFALL WILL OCCUR TONIGHT
  THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING.

* SNOW LEVELS: INITIALLY AROUND 8000 FEET...AND DROP RAPIDLY TO
  LAKE LEVEL AND ALL VALLEY FLOORS BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY
  THIS EVENING.

* SNOW AMOUNTS: ONE TO TWO FEET BY MIDDAY SUNDAY ABOVE 7000
  FEET...WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS TO NEAR 30 INCHES ALONG THE SIERRA
  CREST. A TOTAL OF 6 TO 12 INCHES BELOW 7000 FEET...WITH HIGHER
  AMOUNTS NEAR 18 INCHES ALONG AND WEST OF CALIFORNIA STATE ROUTE
  89.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 T0 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.
  GUSTS OF 80 TO 100 MPH OVER THE HIGHER RIDGES.

* IMPACTS: THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WIND WILL
  PRODUCE SEVERAL HOURS OF RAPID SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND NEAR ZERO
  VISIBILITY...ESPECIALLY OVER THE PASSES LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY
  SUNDAY MORNING.

$$

CAZ073-212300-
/O.UPG.KREV.WS.A.0003.090322T0000Z-090322T1800Z/
/O.NEW.KREV.WS.W.0003.090322T0000Z-090322T1800Z/
MONO-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...MAMMOTH LAKES
412 AM PDT SAT MAR 21 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
11 AM PDT SUNDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM
WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 11 AM PDT SUNDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER
IN EFFECT.

* SNOW WILL MOVE INTO THE CENTRAL SIERRA BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON
  AND CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY. A PERIOD OF HEAVY SNOWFALL WILL
  OCCUR LATE TONIGHT THROUGH MID SUNDAY MORNING.

* SNOW LEVELS: INITIALLY AROUND 8000 FEET...AND RAPIDLY LOWER TO
  BELOW 6000 FEET TONIGHT.

* SNOW AMOUNTS: 15 TO 30 INCHES BY MIDDAY SUNDAY IN THE SIERRA
  ABOVE 7000 FEET...WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS TO 3 FEET IN THE HIGH
  SIERRA. A TOTAL OF 6 TO 12 INCHES FOR AREAS BETWEEN 6000 AND
  7000 FEET NEAR THE HIGHWAY 395 CORRIDOR. LIGHT SNOW
  ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD OCCUR IN THE LOWER VALLEYS OF EASTERN MONO
  COUNTY SUNDAY MORNING.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 T0 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH IN
  THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. GUSTS OF 80 TO 100 MPH OVER THE HIGHER
  RIDGES.

* IMPACTS: THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WIND WILL
  PRODUCE SEVERAL HOURS OF RAPID SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND NEAR ZERO
  VISIBILITY...ESPECIALLY OVER THE PASSES LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY
  SUNDAY MORNING.

&&

$$

CAZ071-212300-
/O.NEW.KREV.WW.Y.0011.090322T0000Z-090322T1800Z/
LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS-EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SUSANVILLE
412 AM PDT SAT MAR 21 2009

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO
11 AM PDT SUNDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY FOR SNOW ...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM THIS AFTERNOON
TO 11 AM PDT SUNDAY.

* SNOW SHOWERS WILL BEGIN THIS AFTERNOON...AND CONTINUE THROUGH
  SUNDAY MORNING. A PERIOD OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL IS LIKELY
  LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING.

* SNOW LEVELS: INITIALLY LOWER TO 5500 FEET THIS AFTERNOON AND
  RAPIDLY DROP TO VALLEY FLOORS BY MIDNIGHT.

* SNOW AMOUNTS: 6 TO 12 INCHES OF SNOW WEST OF HIGHWAY 395 BY
  MIDDAY SUNDAY. HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE LIKELY NEAR THE CREST SIERRA
  COUNTY. EAST OF HIGHWAY 395 UP TO 4 INCHES OF SNOWFALL IS
  POSSIBLE.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH.

* IMPACTS: THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WIND WILL
  PRODUCE RAPID SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND NEAR ZERO
  VISIBILITY...ESPECIALLY OVER THE PASSES LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY
  SUNDAY MORNING.

$$

BRONG/OHARA

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO
4 follow-up statements
000 
WWUS45 KREV 212247
WSWREV

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
347 PM PDT SAT MAR 21 2009

...PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW IN THE SIERRA TONIGHT
THROUGH SUNDAY...

.A FAST MOVING STORM WILL DRIVE A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE REGION
TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING. PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL
AND MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES WILL ACCOMPANY THE FRONT IN THE
SIERRA...WITH SNOW DIMINISHING TO SNOW SHOWERS BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND GUSTY WINDS WILL CREATE
DANGEROUS WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS IN THE SIERRA. IF YOU HAVE
TRAVEL PLANS IN THE SIERRA TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING...EXPECT
LENGTHY DELAYS AND POSSIBLE HIGHWAY CLOSURES. CONTINUE TO MONITOR
THE LATEST FORECASTS AT WEATHER.GOV/RENO OR LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER
RADIO.

CAZ072-NVZ002-220645-
/O.CON.KREV.WS.W.0003.090322T0000Z-090322T1800Z/
GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SOUTH LAKE TAHOE...TRUCKEE
347 PM PDT SAT MAR 21 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT
SUNDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11
AM PDT SUNDAY.

* PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. THE
  HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH MID MORNING
  SUNDAY.

* SNOW AMOUNTS: ONE TO TWO FEET BY MIDDAY SUNDAY ABOVE 7000
  FEET...WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS TO NEAR 30 INCHES ALONG THE SIERRA
  CREST. A TOTAL OF 6 TO 12 INCHES BELOW 7000 FEET...WITH HIGHER
  AMOUNTS NEAR 18 INCHES ALONG AND WEST OF CALIFORNIA STATE ROUTE
  89.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH. GUSTS
  OF 80 TO 100 MPH OVER THE HIGHER RIDGES.

* IMPACTS: THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WIND WILL
  PRODUCE SEVERAL HOURS OF RAPID SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND NEAR ZERO
  VISIBILITY...ESPECIALLY OVER THE PASSES LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY
  SUNDAY MORNING. THE RISK FOR AVALANCHES IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS
  WILL INCREASE ON SUNDAY.

$$

CAZ073-220645-
/O.CON.KREV.WS.W.0003.090322T0000Z-090322T1800Z/
MONO-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...MAMMOTH LAKES
347 PM PDT SAT MAR 21 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT
SUNDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11
AM PDT SUNDAY.

* PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH LATE SUNDAY MORNING IN THE
  SIERRA...WITH SNOW SPREADING INTO THE REMAINDER OF MONO COUNTY
  OVERNIGHT. THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED FROM LATE TONIGHT
  THROUGH MID MORNING SUNDAY.

* SNOW LEVELS: INITIALLY AROUND 7000 TO 7500 FEET...THEN RAPIDLY
  LOWERING TO BELOW 6000 FEET TONIGHT.

* SNOW AMOUNTS: 15 TO 30 INCHES BY MIDDAY SUNDAY IN THE SIERRA
  ABOVE 7000 FEET...WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS TO 3 FEET IN THE HIGH
  SIERRA. A TOTAL OF 6 TO 12 INCHES FOR AREAS BETWEEN 6000 AND
  7000 FEET NEAR THE HIGHWAY 395 CORRIDOR. LIGHTER SNOW
  ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD OCCUR IN THE LOWER VALLEYS OF EASTERN MONO
  COUNTY SUNDAY MORNING.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 T0 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH IN
  THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. GUSTS OF 80 TO 100 MPH OVER THE HIGHER
  RIDGES.

* IMPACTS: THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WIND WILL
  PRODUCE SEVERAL HOURS OF RAPID SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND NEAR ZERO
  VISIBILITY...ESPECIALLY OVER THE PASSES LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY
  SUNDAY MORNING. THE RISK FOR AVALANCHES IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS
  WILL INCREASE ON SUNDAY. 

&&

$$

CAZ071-220645-
/O.CON.KREV.WW.Y.0011.090322T0000Z-090322T1800Z/
LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS-EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SUSANVILLE
347 PM PDT SAT MAR 21 2009

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT
SUNDAY...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM
PDT SUNDAY.

* PERIODS OF SNOW AND SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY
  MORNING. A PERIOD OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL IS LIKELY LATE
  TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING ESPECIALLY WEST OF HIGHWAY 395.

* SNOW LEVELS: INITIALLY 5000 TO 5500 FEET...THEN RAPIDLY DROPPING
  TO VALLEY FLOORS BY MIDNIGHT.

* SNOW AMOUNTS: 6 TO 12 INCHES WEST OF HIGHWAY 395 BY MIDDAY
  SUNDAY. LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE LIKELY WEST OF HIGHWAY 89 IN
  CENTRAL SIERRA COUNTY. EAST OF HIGHWAY 395...AND IN THE EASTERN
  SIERRA VALLEY...UP TO 4 INCHES OF SNOWFALL IS POSSIBLE.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH.

* IMPACTS: THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS WILL
  PRODUCE RAPID SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY... 
  ESPECIALLY OVER THE PASSES LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY
  MORNING.

$$
MJD

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO
000 
WWUS45 KREV 220441
WSWREV

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
941 PM PDT SAT MAR 21 2009

...PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW IN THE SIERRA TONIGHT
THROUGH SUNDAY...

.A FAST MOVING STORM WILL DRIVE A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE REGION
TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING. PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL
AND MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES WILL ACCOMPANY THE FRONT IN THE
SIERRA...WITH SNOW DIMINISHING TO SNOW SHOWERS BY SUNDAY
AFTERNOON.

SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND GUSTY WINDS WILL CREATE
DANGEROUS WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS IN THE SIERRA. IF YOU HAVE
TRAVEL PLANS IN THE SIERRA TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING...EXPECT
LENGTHY DELAYS AND POSSIBLE HIGHWAY CLOSURES. CONTINUE TO MONITOR
THE LATEST FORECASTS AT WEATHER.GOV/RENO OR LISTEN TO NOAA
WEATHER RADIO.

CAZ072-NVZ002-221245-
/O.CON.KREV.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-090322T1800Z/
GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SOUTH LAKE TAHOE...TRUCKEE
941 PM PDT SAT MAR 21 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT
SUNDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11
AM PDT SUNDAY.

* PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. THE
  HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH MID MORNING
  SUNDAY.

* SNOW AMOUNTS: ONE TO TWO FEET BY MIDDAY SUNDAY ABOVE 7000
  FEET...WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS TO NEAR 30 INCHES ALONG THE SIERRA
  CREST. A TOTAL OF 6 TO 12 INCHES BELOW 7000 FEET...WITH HIGHER
  AMOUNTS NEAR 18 INCHES ALONG AND WEST OF CALIFORNIA STATE ROUTE
  89.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.
  GUSTS OF 80 TO 100 MPH OVER THE HIGHER RIDGES.

* IMPACTS: THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WIND WILL
  PRODUCE SEVERAL HOURS OF RAPID SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND NEAR ZERO
  VISIBILITY...ESPECIALLY OVER THE PASSES LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY
  SUNDAY MORNING. THE RISK FOR AVALANCHES IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS
  WILL INCREASE ON SUNDAY.

$$

CAZ073-221245-
/O.CON.KREV.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-090322T1800Z/
MONO-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...MAMMOTH LAKES
941 PM PDT SAT MAR 21 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT
SUNDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11
AM PDT SUNDAY.

* PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH LATE SUNDAY MORNING IN THE
  SIERRA. THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH
  MID MORNING SUNDAY.

* SNOW LEVELS: RAPIDLY LOWERING TO BELOW 6000 FEET BY SUNRISE.

* SNOW AMOUNTS: 15 TO 30 INCHES BY MIDDAY SUNDAY IN THE SIERRA
  ABOVE 7000 FEET...WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS TO 3 FEET IN THE HIGH
  SIERRA. A TOTAL OF 6 TO 12 INCHES FOR AREAS BETWEEN 6000 AND
  7000 FEET NEAR THE HIGHWAY 395 CORRIDOR. LIGHTER SNOW
  ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD OCCUR IN THE LOWER VALLEYS OF EASTERN MONO
  COUNTY SUNDAY MORNING.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 T0 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH
  IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. GUSTS OF 80 TO 100 MPH OVER THE HIGHER
  RIDGES.

* IMPACTS: THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WIND WILL
  PRODUCE SEVERAL HOURS OF RAPID SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND NEAR ZERO
  VISIBILITY...ESPECIALLY OVER THE PASSES OVERNIGHT AND INTO EARLY
  SUNDAY MORNING. THE RISK FOR AVALANCHES IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS
  WILL INCREASE ON SUNDAY.

&&

$$

CAZ071-221245-
/O.CON.KREV.WW.Y.0011.000000T0000Z-090322T1800Z/
LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS-EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SUSANVILLE
941 PM PDT SAT MAR 21 2009

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT
SUNDAY...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM
PDT SUNDAY.

* PERIODS OF SNOW AND SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY
  MORNING. A PERIOD OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL IS LIKELY LATE
  TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING ESPECIALLY WEST OF HIGHWAY 395.

* SNOW LEVELS: RAPIDLY DROPPING TO VALLEY FLOORS BY MIDNIGHT.

* SNOW AMOUNTS: 6 TO 12 INCHES WEST OF HIGHWAY 395 BY MIDDAY
  SUNDAY. LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE LIKELY WEST OF HIGHWAY 89 IN
  CENTRAL SIERRA COUNTY. EAST OF HIGHWAY 395...AND IN THE EASTERN
  SIERRA VALLEY...UP TO 4 INCHES OF SNOWFALL IS POSSIBLE.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH.

* IMPACTS: THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS WILL
  PRODUCE RAPID SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY...
  ESPECIALLY OVER THE PASSES OVERNIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY MORNING.

$$

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO
000 
WWUS45 KREV 221142
WSWREV

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
442 AM PDT SUN MAR 22 2009

...HEAVY SNOW IN THE SIERRA THIS MORNING...

.A BAND OF HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS WILL PASS THROUGH THIS SIERRA THIS
MORNING. THIS BAND MAY PRODUCE SNOWFALL RATES UP TO 3 INCHES PER
HOUR NEAR THE SIERRA CREST. SHOWERS WILL DECREASE THIS AFTERNOON
AND END BY THIS EVENING.

SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND GUSTY WINDS WILL CREATE
DANGEROUS WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS IN THE SIERRA. IF YOU HAVE
TRAVEL PLANS IN THE SIERRA EXPECT LENGTHY DELAYS.

CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AT WEATHER.GOV/RENO OR
LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO.

CAZ072-NVZ002-221800-
/O.CON.KREV.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-090322T1800Z/
GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SOUTH LAKE TAHOE...TRUCKEE
442 AM PDT SUN MAR 22 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT THIS
MORNING...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11
AM PDT THIS MORNING.

* HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS MORNING.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 2 FEET ABOVE 7000 FEET...WITH
  AMOUNTS UP TO 30 INCHES ALONG THE SIERRA CREST. 6 TO 12 INCHES
  BELOW 7000 FEET...WITH AMOUNTS NEAR 18 INCHES ALONG AND WEST OF
  HIGHWAY 89.

* WINDS WILL BE LIGHTER TODAY WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH IN THE LOWER
  ELEVATIONS. GUSTS TO 60 MPH OVER SIERRA RIDGES. THESE WINDS
  WILL CREATE SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

* HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS WILL PRODUCE SEVERAL HOURS OF RAPID
  SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY THIS MORNING.

$$

CAZ073-221800-
/O.CON.KREV.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-090322T1800Z/
MONO-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...MAMMOTH LAKES
442 AM PDT SUN MAR 22 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT THIS
MORNING...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11
AM PDT THIS MORNING.

* HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS MORNING.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AMOUNTS OF 15 TO 30 INCHES ABOVE 7000
  FEET...WITH AMOUNTS UP TO 3 FEET IN THE HIGH SIERRA. 6 TO 12
  INCHES BETWEEN 6000 AND 7000 FEET. LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS IN
  THE LOWER VALLEYS OF EASTERN MONO COUNTY.

* WINDS WILL BE LIGHTER TODAY WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH IN THE LOWER
  ELEVATIONS. GUSTS NEAR 100 MPH EARLY THIS MORNING OVER THE
  SIERRA RIDGES WILL DECREASE TO 60 TO 75 MPH BY MID MORNING.
  THESE WINDS WILL CREATE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

* HEAVY SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS WILL PRODUCE SEVERAL HOURS OF RAPID
  SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY THIS MORNING.

$$

CAZ071-221800-
/O.CON.KREV.WW.Y.0011.000000T0000Z-090322T1800Z/
LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS-EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SUSANVILLE
442 AM PDT SUN MAR 22 2009

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT THIS
MORNING...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM
PDT THIS MORNING.

* SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS MORNING. THE HEAVIEST
  SNOW SHOWERS WILL AFFECT AREAS IN EASTERN PLUMAS AND SIERRA
  COUNTIES.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 6 TO 12 INCHES WEST OF HIGHWAY 395
  WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS ALONG HIGHWAY 89 IN SIERRA AND PLUMAS
  COUNTIES. UP TO 4 INCHES EAST OF HIGHWAY 395 AND IN THE SIERRA
  VALLEY.

* SNOW AND WIND GUSTS TO 35 MPH WILL PRODUCE AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW
  AND NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY AT TIMES.

$$

BRONG

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO
000 
WWUS45 KREV 221756
WSWREV

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
1056 AM PDT SUN MAR 22 2009

CAZ072-NVZ002-221900-
/O.EXP.KREV.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-090322T1800Z/
GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SOUTH LAKE TAHOE...TRUCKEE
1056 AM PDT SUN MAR 22 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 11 AM PDT THIS MORNING...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 11 AM PDT THIS MORNING. 

* SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
  MAINLY NEAR THE SIERRA CREST...BUT THE HEAVIEST SNOW HAS ENDED.

* ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 2 TO 4 INCHES ABOVE 7000
  FEET...WITH LOCAL AMOUNTS UP TO 2 INCHES DOWN TO LAKE LEVEL.

* IMPACTS: ALTHOUGH THE HEAVIEST SNOW HAS ENDED...SOME TRAVEL
  DELAYS AND CHAIN RESTRICTIONS ARE STILL EXPECTED ON AREA
  ROADS AND HIGHWAYS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.

$$

CAZ073-221900-
/O.EXP.KREV.WS.W.0003.000000T0000Z-090322T1800Z/
MONO-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...MAMMOTH LAKES
1056 AM PDT SUN MAR 22 2009

...WINTER STORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 11 AM PDT THIS MORNING...

THE WINTER STORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 11 AM PDT THIS MORNING. 

* SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
  MAINLY NEAR THE SIERRA CREST...BUT THE HEAVIEST SNOW HAS ENDED.

* ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 3 TO 5 INCHES ABOVE 7500 FEET
  NEAR THE SIERRA CREST...WITH LESS THAN 2 INCHES ELSEWHERE.

* IMPACTS: ALTHOUGH THE HEAVIEST SNOW HAS ENDED...SOME TRAVEL
  DELAYS AND CHAIN RESTRICTIONS ARE STILL EXPECTED ON AREA ROADS
  AND HIGHWAYS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.

$$

CAZ071-221900-
/O.EXP.KREV.WW.Y.0011.000000T0000Z-090322T1800Z/
LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS-EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES-
INCLUDING THE CITY OF...SUSANVILLE
1056 AM PDT SUN MAR 22 2009

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 11 AM PDT THIS
MORNING...

THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 11 AM PDT THIS
MORNING. 

* SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON
  MAINLY SOUTH OF SUSANVILLE...BUT THE HEAVIEST SNOW HAS ENDED.

* ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: UP TO 2 INCHES MAINLY NEAR AND
  WEST OF HIGHWAY 89 IN CENTRAL SIERRA AND PLUMAS COUNTIES.

* IMPACTS: ALTHOUGH THE HEAVIEST SNOW HAS ENDED...SOME TRAVEL DELAYS
  AND CHAIN RESTRICTIONS ARE STILL EXPECTED ON AREA HIGHWAYS
  THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.

$$
MJD

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this winter storm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Reno, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before this winter storm warning went out at Mar 20, 3:24 PM PDT, 12 hours 48 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 20, 3:24 PM PDT, 12 hours 48 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
324 PM PDT FRI MAR 20 2009

.SHORT TERM...
WINTER WEATHER TO RETURN TO THE EASTERN SIERRA AND WESTERN NV OVER
THE WEEKEND. UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE CENTER CURRENTLY LOCATED IN
THE GULF OF ALASKA WILL DROP DOWN THE WEST COAST SATURDAY AND
SUNDAY. SOME DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE MODELS DO EXIST IN REGARDS
TO THE TRACK OF THE LOW...THE ECMWF/GFS/UKMET ALL DROP THE LOW
INTO SOUTHERN CA AND INTO THE DESERT SOUTHWEST...NAM/SREF
MAINTAIN A NORTHERLY TRACK ACROSS WESTERN NV. WITH ENSEMBLE
SUPPORT AND MORE CONSISTENCY...WILL GO WITH THE ECMWF/GFS/UKMET
SOLUTION. WILL WAIT ON UPGRADING CURRENT WINTER STORM WATCHES AT
THIS TIME WITH UNCERTAINTIES IN THE FORECAST TRACK HAVING LARGE
IMPACTS ON SNOWFALL TOTALS. MAIN IMPACTS WILL BE WIND POTENTIAL
ALONG THE SIERRA FRONT SATURDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING AND SNOWFALL
OVER THE SIERRA AND LOCATIONS SOUTH OF I-80 THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

LEAD SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL WRAP AROUND THE MAIN LOW SATURDAY
MORNING AND MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN CA/NV. MODELS INDICATE A FAIR
AMOUNT OF INSTABILITY AND A WEAK FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THE
SHORTWAVE. HAVE LEFT OUT THE MENTION OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS
NORTHERN LASSEN/WASHOE AND FAR EASTERN CHURCHILL/PERSHING COUNTIES
FOR LATE SATURDAY MORNING AS WINDS MAY BE TOO STRONG SHEARING ANY
VERTICAL DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS LACK OF DAYTIME HEATING LIMITING
INSTABILITY. IF THE SYSTEM SLOWS DOWN AND CAN PUSH THE FRONT
ACROSS THE AREA DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS...ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORMS MAY NEED TO BE INTRODUCED OVER NORTHERN
LASSEN/WASHOE AND EASTERN CHURCHILL/PERSHING COUNTIES FOR THE
AFTERNOON HOURS.

MAIN LOW AND UPPER LEVEL JET WILL MOVE INTO CENTRAL CA BY MID DAY
SATURDAY SPREADING PRECIPITATION FROM LASSEN COUNTY SOUTHWARD TO
THE TAHOE BASIN. WINDS ARE FORECAST TO INCREASE SATURDAY
AFTERNOON. FORWARD SHEAR ENVIRONMENT COUPLED WITH MOIST UNSTABLE
ATMOSPHERE WILL LIMIT ANY DOWNSLOPE WIND POTENTIAL. WINDS ARE
FORECAST TO GUST IN THE 40 MPH RANGE ALONG THE SIERRA FRONT WITH
WIND PRONE LOCATIONS SEEING GUSTS OF 45-50 MPH SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
CAUTION SHOULD BE TAKEN BY THOSE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY
395...ESPECIALLY FROM RENO SOUTH INTO MONO COUNTY. STRONG COLD
FRONT WILL ACCOMPANY THE MAIN LOW AND PUSH INTO THE SIERRA
LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND INTO WESTERN NV SATURDAY EVENING.
WINDS WILL BE STRONGEST ALONG THE FRONT BEFORE DECREASING
SATURDAY EVENING AS THE FRONT MOVES EASTWARD ACROSS THE REGION. FRONT
COUPLED WITH THE UPPER LEVEL JET WILL SPREAD PRECIP SOUTH ALONG
THE SIERRA CREST INTO MONO COUNTY. MODEL QPF FIELDS INDICATING
OVER AN INCH OF LIQUID PRECIP OVER MONO COUNTY. WITH INSTABILITY
AND JET DYNAMICS...LOCATIONS FROM LAKE TAHOE TO MONO COUNTY ALONG
THE SIERRA CREST ARE LIKELY TO SEE HIGH SNOWFALL RATES SATURDAY
NIGHT. STRONG INSTABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE
A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR SPILLOVER INTO WESTERN NV FROM I-80
SOUTH INTO MINERAL COUNTY. STRONG FRONTOGENESIS AND FAVORABLE
DYNAMICS ARE FORECAST TO PUSH INTO WESTERN NV SUNDAY MORNING
PROVIDING THE FOCUS FOR AROUND 6 HOURS...12-18Z TIME FRAME...OF
DECENT SNOWFALL. LOCATIONS NEAR LAKE TAHOE LOOK TO SEE AROUND 6-12
INCHES SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING. IF THE LOW TRACKS
FURTHER SOUTH...SNOWFALL TOTALS IN THE TAHOE BASIN WILL NEED TO BE
LOWERED. HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF MONO COUNTY WILL LIKELY SEE 1 TO 2 FEET
OF SNOWFALL WITH LOWER ELEVATIONS SEEING 6 TO 12 INCHES. LOCATIONS
IN WESTERN NV SOUTH OF I-80 WILL SEE A COUPLE OF INCHES WITH LOCAL
2 TO 4 INCHES OVER MINERAL COUNTY. SNOW LEVELS WILL START OUT
AROUND 7000 FT SATURDAY MORNING BEFORE FALLING TO ALL VALLEY
FLOORS SATURDAY NIGHT AS THE FRONT PASSES ACROSS THE AREA.

UPPER LOW WILL QUICKLY MOVE TO THE SOUTHEAST SUNDAY NIGHT BRINGING
AN END TO THE PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE AREA. SHORTWAVE RIDGE IS
FORECAST TO BUILD ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S. ON MONDAY. NORTHWESTERLY
FLOW WILL KEEP COOLER TEMPERATURES OVER THE REGION WITH AFTERNOON
HIGHS ON MONDAY IN THE 40S TO NEAR 50 IN WESTERN NV...WHICH IS
SEVERAL DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. MOZLEY

.LONG TERM...
UNCERTAINTY IN THE LONG RANGE CONTINUES AS GFS/EURO/CANADIAN
OPERATIONAL MODELS HAVE SHIFTED FROM PAST RUNS OF THE RIDGE
BUILDING ALONG THE WEST COAST AND GENERAL NORTHWEST FLOW/WEAK SHORT
WAVE PASSAGES ACROSS THE AREA TO ALLOWING A COLD LOW AND STRONG COLD
FRONT TO DROP SOUTH ACROSS THE AREA BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. THIS
SCENARIO WOULD BRING VERY WINDY CONDITIONS TO THE AREA WEDNESDAY
INTO THURSDAY ALONG WITH MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES AND SNOWFALL
ESPECIALLY TO WRN NV. THIS IS A COMPLETE SHIFT FROM PAST RUNS AND
HAS VERY LITTLE ENSEMBLE SUPPORT FROM THE 12Z GEFS/NAEFS/EURO
MEMBERS. HOWEVER IT CANNOT BE COMPLETELY DISCOUNTED AS THREE
OPERATIONAL MODELS ARE IN AGREEMENT. THE UKMET ON THE OTHER HAND
KEEPS THE RIDGE CLOSER TO THE WEST COAST AND PUSHES THE TROUGH
FURTHER EAST INTO UT/CO. THIS SOLUTION SEEMS MORE IN LINE WITH THE
ENSEMBLES AND SUPPORTS THE 1-2 STANDARD DEVIATION ABOVE NORMAL RIDGE
OFF THE WEST COAST. THE MAIN QUESTION MARK WILL BE HOW FAR WEST THIS
LOW PUSHES SOUTH...AS IT WILL DRAMATICALLY ALTER ANY IMPACTS TO OUR
AREA.

FOR NOW HAVE JUST TRENDED SLIGHTLY TOWARD THE COLDER SOLUTION...BUT
HAVE NOT BOUGHT INTO IT COMPLETELY YET. TEMPERATURES WERE LOWERED
AROUND 5 DEGREES...YET STILL REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL. SNOW LEVELS WERE
ALSO TRENDED DOWN ALONG WITH ADDING A SLIGHT CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION
TO THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY. IF MODELS SHOW SOME RUN TO
RUN CONSISTENCY IN FUTURE SHIFTS...THE WEATHER WOULD BE MUCH COLDER
AND WETTER THAN CURRENTLY FORECAST. GMCGUIRE

&&

.AVIATION...
VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY WITH HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE
AREA. WINTER STORM APPROACHES THE AREA SATURDAY BRINGING INCREASING
WINDS. SIERRA RIDGE WINDS GUSTING AROUND 25 KTS THIS AFTERNOON WILL
INCREASE TO 40 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 85 KTS ON SATURDAY. MOUNTAIN WAVES
AND LOWER LEVEL TURBULENCE EAST OF THE SIERRA CAN BE EXPECTED
SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT. LLWS IS POSSIBLE AT KTRK/KTVL/KRNO
SATURDAY MORNING...BUT CONFIDENCE IS LOW AS MIXING LOOKS TO OCCUR
FAIRLY EARLY WHICH WOULD REDUCE THIS CHANCE.

SNOW WILL REACH KTRK/KTVL SATURDAY AFTERNOON...WITH IFR CONDITIONS
AND ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL EXPECTED SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY
MORNING.

FOR KRNO...SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS AROUND 20 KTS WITH GUSTS TO
30-35 KTS ARE EXPECTED SATURDAY AFTERNOON INTO SUNDAY MORNING AS THE
FRONT APPROACHES AND MOVES THROUGH THE AREA. THE STRONGEST WINDS ARE
EXPECTED 23Z-04Z. BEST CHANCES FOR RAIN/SNOW WILL BE ALONG THE FRONT
EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. GMCGUIRE

&&

.REV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NV...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 1 PM TO 9 PM PDT SATURDAY FOR NVZ004.

     WINTER STORM WATCH FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY
     MORNING FOR NVZ002.

     LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 11 AM TO 5 PM PDT SATURDAY FOR NVZ002.

CA...WINTER STORM WATCH FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY
     MORNING FOR CAZ072-073.

     LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 11 AM TO 5 PM PDT SATURDAY FOR CAZ072.

&&

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO
Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 20, 8:05 AM PDT, 20 hours 7 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
805 AM PDT FRI MAR 20 2008

CAZ070>073-NVZ001>005-211600-
SURPRISE VALLEY CALIFORNIA-LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS-
EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES-GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-MONO-
MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES-GREATER RENO-CARSON CITY-
MINDEN AREA-WESTERN NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE INCLUDING PYRAMID LAKE-
NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY-
800 AM PDT FRI MAR 20 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE EASTERN SIERRA...
NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND WESTERN NEVADA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY

SPRINGLIKE CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE AGAIN TODAY WITH TEMPERATURES 10
TO 15 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL AND MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES. NO HAZARDOUS
WEATHER IS EXPECTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

A STRONG AND FAST MOVING WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE
AREA SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AND BRING GUSTY WINDS TO THE REGION ALONG
WITH HEAVY SNOW TO THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SIERRA. WINDS WILL BE
STRONGEST SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT AND
ARE EXPECTED TO GUST TO AROUND 45 MPH IN THE VALLEYS...ESPECIALLY IN
THE IMMEDIATE LEE OF THE SIERRA. RIDGE GUSTS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH
75 MPH OR MORE SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL OF
1 TO 2 FEET IS EXPECTED IN THE SIERRA ABOVE 7000 FEET FROM THE TAHOE
BASIN SOUTH TO MONO COUNTY. RAIN WILL TURN TO SNOW IN THE LEESIDE
VALLEYS SATURDAY NIGHT WITH UP TO A COUPLE INCHES OF SNOW
ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE. THIS WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN WEATHER
COMPARED TO THE WARM CONDITIONS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WEEK. SEE
THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE /WWUS45 KREV WSWREV/ FOR MORE
DETAILED INFORMATION.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT WIND
GUSTS...WIND DAMAGE...OR SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS TO THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO.

MILNE

HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO

The office that day

Everything else NWS Reno, NV issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 21, 4:12 AM PDTWinter Weather AdvisoryREVLassen, Plumas, Sierra31 hr

Nearby

Winter Storm Warnings in California, 2009Winter Storm Warnings in Nevada, 2009Every winter storm warning in 2009

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.