Nevada, 2002High Wind in Nevada, December 14, 2002
December 14, 2002 · NWS REV · 33 events in 5 counties and zones
A strong cold front moving through northern California on December 14 brought near-record nigh winds to northeast California and western Nevada. Wind gusts reports in the 60-80 mph range were common throughout the day across the entire region, with a few gusts near 100 mph.
Every event with a place to put it; 33 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
Open the live radar over this ground
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $5.9 million
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 33
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
A strong cold front moving through northern California on December 14 brought near-record nigh winds to northeast California and western Nevada. Wind gusts reports in the 60-80 mph range were common throughout the day across the entire region, with a few gusts near 100 mph. Remote wind sensors along the Sierra Crest measured wind gusts in excess of 130 mph. Strongest winds occurred just before the cold front moved into the area at about 5:30 p.m. Literally hundreds of trees and thousands of tree limbs were blown down across the region. In addition, there was widespread damage to roofs, fences, commercial billboards and signs, and power lines. Numerous power outages occurred, some lasting for several days after the event in rural areas. In Carson City, the entire roof of an apartment building was torn off by wind gusts estimated at 90 mph. Across much of western Nevada, blowing dust and debris created near zero visibilities at times, resulting in temporary closures of highways in Mineral, Lyon, Pershing and Churchill counties. A few relatively minor traffic accidents resulted from the low visibilities. Several tractor-trailer rigs were also blown off highways or blown over by the strong winds. From these accidents, a few minor injuries were reported but fortunately no serious injuries or deaths were reported. The regional electric utility lost 140 power poles and 18 transmission line due to the strong winds, with damages and repair costs estimated at over $3M. Total regional wind damage costs were estimated at nearly $10M.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Dec 14, 9:00 AM PST, 43 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Dec 14, 9:00 AM PST, 43 minutes before
WESTERN NEVADA AND EASTERN CALIFORNIA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
900 AM PST SAT DEC 14 2002
THE FLOW ALOFT HAS BACKED TO SSW ALOFT IN ADVANCE OF AN APPROACHING
PACIFIC TROUGH. WARM FRONT PRECIPITATION HAS MOVED OFF TO THE NE
AND REMAINING PRECIPITATION IS EXITING SHOWERS W CENTRAL NV AND
MAINLY OROGRAPHIC RAIN UP TO THE SIERRA CREST. SINKING AIR IS
INDICATED IN THE MODELS ACROSS THE AREA FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. IN
THE ABSENCE OF SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION...STRONG WINDS INCREASING
FROM THE WEST ARE 55 TO 70 KTS AT 700 MB THIS AFTERNOON AND SHOULD
MIX DOWN THE EAST SLOPES AND ACROSS THE WRN NV VALLEYS THROUGH THE
AFTERNOON. THIS IS AHEAD OF A STRONG COLD FRONT THAT MOVES INTO NE
CA LATER TODAY AND SLIDES DOWN THE SIERRA AND OVER WRN NV TONIGHT.
PRECIPITATION WITH FALLING SNOW LEVELS WILL BE SIGNIFICANT IN THE
SIERRA BUT RAIN OR SNOW BANDS SHOULD ALSO ACCOMPANY THE FRONT AS IT
MOVES OVER WRN NV VALLEYS TONIGHT. HEAVIER PRECIPITATION MAY ALSO
STABILIZE THE LOWER LEVELS ENOUGH TO REDUCE THE STRONGER WIND GUSTS
IN THE MOUNTAINS BY TONIGHT. SNOW LEVELS DIP NEAR 5000 FEET NORTH
AND WEST BY SUNDAY MORNING AS THE ASSOCIATED UPPER TROUGH MOVES FROM
WRN NV WITH RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS TAPERING OFF FROM THE WEST. THE
NEXT AND COLDER PACIFIC FRONT IS STILL ON TRACK TO REACH NRN CA
SUNDAY NIGHT...MOVING INTO THE SIERRA MONDAY WITH HEAVY SIERRA RAIN
AND SNOW. OSTERMAN.
.REV...HIGH WIND WARNING TODAY AND TONIGHT ALL ZONES
...WINTER STORM WARNING TONIGHT ZONES 71..2/72..73.Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 14, 7:00 AM PST, 2 hours 43 minutes before
CAZ070>073-NVZ001>005-151500-
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
700 AM PST SAT DEC 14 2002
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN NEVADA...THE EASTERN
SIERRA AND NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA.
.DAY ONE..SATURDAY
A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE SIERRA THIS EVENING AND ACROSS
WESTERN NEVADA TONIGHT. VERY STRONG WINDS WILL PRECEDE THE FRONT
WITH LOCALLY HEAVY SNOW DEVELOPING ALONG THE SIERRA AND NORTHEAST
CALIFORNIA TONIGHT.
A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR ALL
AREAS. DAMAGING WINDS OF 30 TO 60 MPH WILL BE COMMON WITH LOCALLY
STRONGER GUSTS...SEE RNONPWREV FOR DETAILS. A WINTER STORM WARNING
IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT FOR MONO COUNTY...THE LAKE TAHOE AREA...AND
LASSEN...EASTERN SIERRA AND EASTERN PLUMAS COUNTIES...SEE RNOWSWREV
FOR DETAILS.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
A SIGNIFICANT WINTER WEATHER SYSTEM IS POSSIBLE MONDAY WITH ANOTHER
ROUND OF HEAVY PRECIPITATION AND STRONG WINDS. THIS SYSTEM IS COLDER
AND WILL BRING SNOW LEVELS DOWN TO MOST VALLEY FLOORS.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY DUE TO
THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY SNOW AND HIGH WINDS.
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 9:43 AM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Northern Washoe
- When
- December 14, 9:57 AM PST
- Where
- Northern Washoe forecast zone
- Measured
- 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 40.665, -119.664 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 10:35 AM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 70 kt (81 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 11:15 AM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 11:15 AM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 67 kt (77 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 11:50 AM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 11:55 AM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 62 kt (71 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 12:03 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 70 kt (81 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 12:30 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 72 kt (83 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Northern Washoe
- When
- December 14, 12:44 PM PST
- Where
- Northern Washoe forecast zone
- Measured
- 64 kt (74 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 40.665, -119.664 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 1:00 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 1:35 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 61 kt (70 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 2:40 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 3:00 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 76 kt (87 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 3:25 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 81 kt (93 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Lake Tahoe Area
- When
- December 14, 3:31 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Lake Tahoe Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 39.789, -119.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 3:59 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 69 kt (79 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Mineral/Southern Lyon
- When
- December 14, 4:00 PM PST
- Where
- Mineral/Southern Lyon forecast zone
- Measured
- 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 38.780, -118.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 4:00 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 78 kt (90 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Western Nevada Basin and Range
- When
- December 14, 4:00 PM PST
- Where
- Western Nevada Basin and Range forecast zone
- Measured
- 65 kt (75 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 39.927, -118.898 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 4:02 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 80 kt (92 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Western Nevada Basin and Range
- When
- December 14, 4:03 PM PST
- Where
- Western Nevada Basin and Range forecast zone
- Measured
- 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 39.927, -118.898 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 4:03 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 70 kt (81 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 4:17 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 71 kt (82 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 4:18 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 68 kt (78 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Mineral/Southern Lyon
- When
- December 14, 4:30 PM PST
- Where
- Mineral/Southern Lyon forecast zone
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 38.780, -118.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 4:30 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 62 kt (71 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 4:30 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- EMERGENCY MANAGER
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 4:30 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 4:35 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Mineral/Southern Lyon
- When
- December 14, 4:55 PM PST
- Where
- Mineral/Southern Lyon forecast zone
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 38.780, -118.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Mineral/Southern Lyon
- When
- December 14, 5:00 PM PST
- Where
- Mineral/Southern Lyon forecast zone
- Measured
- 80 kt (92 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 38.780, -118.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area
- When
- December 14, 5:00 PM PST
- Where
- Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
- Measured
- 80 kt (92 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $180,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
- High Wind
- Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- High Wind in California, December 14, 2002$4.0 million · 100 kt wind · 18 events
- High Wind in Washington, December 14, 2002$35,000 · 50 kt wind · 1 event
- Heavy Snow in New York, December 14, 2002$20,000 · 2 events
- Strong Wind in California, December 14, 2002$15,000 · 3 events
- Strong Wind in Maine, December 14, 200211 events
- High Wind in Oregon, December 14, 2002$15,000 · 1 event
- Flooding and High Wind in California, December 14 to 15, 200265 kt wind · 6 events
- Winter Weather in North Carolina, December 14, 20026 events
- High Surf in Hawaii, December 14 to 16, 20026 events
- Heavy Snow in California, December 14 to 15, 20026 events
- High Wind in Oregon, December 14, 2002$12,000 · 51 kt wind · 1 event
- Winter Storm in Maine, December 14 to 15, 20024 events
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5325477, 5325478, 5325479, 5325480, 5325481, 5325482, 5325483, 5325484, 5325485, 5325486, 5325487, 5325488, 5325489, 5325490, 5325491, 5325257, 5325258, 5325376, 5325377, 5325378, 5325259, 5325260, 5325261, 5325367, 5325368, 5325369, 5325370, 5325371, 5325372, 5325373, 5325374, 5325375, 5325379.