Special Weather Statement, NWS Elko, NV

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Elko NV
1032 AM PST Wed Dec 20 2017

.SYNOPSIS...A strong cold front will move across northern and
central Nevada today bringing accumulating snow, gusty winds, and
much colder temperatures. Travel will be affected over much of
central and northern Nevada.

&&

.UPDATE...Updated forecast to account for the Winter Weather Adv
expiring in Humboldt and made other minor tweaks to the forecast.
Raised pops and snowfall for White Pine County. The rest of the
forecast remains on track.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED AT 226 AM /

SYNOPSIS...A strong cold front will move across northern and
central Nevada today bringing accumulating snow, gusty winds, and
much colder temperatures. Travel will be affected over much of
central and northern Nevada.

SHORT TERM...Today through Friday.

Very changes to previous forecast and no changes to Winter Weather
Advisory. Models still running confident that quick moving cold
front with a very cold airmass behind it will cross/enter Nevada
today and tonight. Best dynamics are right along the front so that
this event will be a fast moving, quick shot of moderate to heavy
snow. Radar already showing precip/virga over eastern Cali to
Humboldt County into Idaho. Temps in most of northern Nevada in
the balmy 40s, but....temps in western Humboldt County and
southern Oregon in the 20s with northwest winds. Still believe
that 1-3 inches could accumulate in the valleys, with best
accumulations in northern Elko County...of course. A few valleys
with favorable upslope or narrowing could see 4-5 in spots.
Mountains expecting up to a foot, except in Great Basin NP where
prolonged upslope/wrap around will produce spots of two-ish feet,
mainly above about 8000 feet.

Winds 15-30 mph gusting to 45 in vicinity of front will also cause
blowing and drifting, and poor visibility. Near ground blizzard
conditions are possible in those locations which tend to get such
issues. Travel over any summits or passes will be troublesome, as
well as vast open valleys with no natural barriers to block winds.

Snow showers will linger off and on through Friday, and the
invading cold air will keep wind chills potentially below zero at
night and in the mornings, then in the single digits to teens in
the "warm" afternoons.

LONG TERM...Friday night through next Thursday.

A weak shortwave will brush northeast Nevada Friday night into
Saturday with the best chance of light snow showers mainly across
northern Elko County while serving to reinforce the cold air
through the weekend. Saturday night will be very cold with a
number of locations in the northeast likely getting down near or
below zero.

Otherwise, the weather will be quiet across northern and central
Nevada for the immediate Christmas Holiday from Sunday through
the bulk of Tuesday as weak upper ridging ahead of the next
significant trough allows daytime temperatures to briefly moderate
back up above freezing early next week.

GFS digs an upper trough south/southeastward into Nevada while
forming a closed low during the middle of next week which would
bring the chance of light to moderate snow Wednesday into Thursday
followed by colder temperatures. ECMWF keeps this system farther
north across Idaho into the northern Rockies and does not dig the
energy and moisture farther south. For now, will side with the GFS
and watch future trends while including POPs for snow Tuesday
night into next Wednesday.

AVIATION...A cold front and upper trough energy will sweep
southeastward across northern and central Nevada today. The front
will be accompanied by a band of snow showers that could produce a
quick inch or two of snowfall. Ceilings and visibilities will
temporarily lower to MVFR levels with brief IFR conditions
possible at KWMC and KEKO during the early to mid morning, and by
early afternoon at KELY. Winds ahead and along the front will
gusts between 25 and 30 kts at KWMC, KEKO, and KELY with northwest
to north post- frontal gusts of 30 to near 40 kts at KTPH later
this Wednesday afternoon and evening. Expect en route obscurations
of mountains particularly in the vicinity of, and behind the cold
front.

&&

.LKN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM PST this afternoon for
Northern Elko County-Northern Lander County and Northern Eureka
County-Ruby Mountains/East Humboldt Range-South Central Elko
County-Southern Lander County and Southern Eureka County-
Southwestern Elko County.

Winter Weather Advisory until 10 PM PST this evening for White
Pine County.

&&

94/99

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Elko NV
1200 PM PST WED DEC 20 2017

NVZ036-202045-
Northern Lander County and Northern Eureka County-
1200 PM PST WED DEC 20 2017

...AN AREA OF HEAVY SNOW WILL AFFECT NORTHEASTERN LANDER AND
NORTHWESTERN EUREKA COUNTIES...

At 1158 AM PST, an area of heavy snow was located near Dunphy,
remaining stationary over the area. The heaviest snow was occurring
from northeast Lander County southeast through north-central Eureka
County, impacting interstate 80.

Winds in excess of 20 mph are possible with this area of heavy snow.

Locations impacted include...
Interstate 80 near Dunphy, Dunphy, Beowawe, Crescent Valley and Mule
Canyon Reclamation Project.

Conditions can deteriorate rapidly in winter weather situations. Be
prepared for snow or ice covered roads. Slow down and allow extra
time when traveling.

A winter weather advisory is in effect for the area. Please monitor
local media outlets and the national weather service for further
statements.

LAT...LON 4098 11682 4098 11656 4045 11626 4036 11661
TIME...MOT...LOC 1958Z 343DEG 6KT 4067 11659

JRM