A powerful winter storm brought strong winds and over three feet of snow to the eastern Sierra Nevada and Carson Range. Strong winds also occurred in western Nevada.
Every event with a place to put it; 21 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS REV wrote it up.
A powerful winter storm brought strong winds and over three feet of snow to the eastern Sierra Nevada and Carson Range. Strong winds also occurred in western Nevada.
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 Feb 24, 2:45 PM PST, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
245 PM PST SAT FEB 24 2007
.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...
PACIFIC COLD FRONT CONTINUES MOVING EASTWARD AND AT 3 PM WAS MOVING
INLAND INTO WESTERN OREGON/NORTHWEST CA. LIGHT PRECIPITATION HAS
DEVELOPED ALONG THE WEST SLOPES OF THE NORTHERN SIERRA AND WAS
SPREADING INTO THE TAHOE REGION BASED ON RADAR IMAGERY AND WEB CAMS.
HEAVIER PRECIP WAS SPREADING ACROSS NORTHERN CA AHEAD OF THE FRONT
AND WILL MOVE INTO THE CWA THIS EVENING. WINTER STORM WARNINGS
REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THE LAKE TAHOE AREA NORTH TO LASSEN COUNTY WITH
SNOW ADVISORIES FOR SURPRISE VALLEY AND NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY
TONIGHT...EXTENDING THROUGH SUNDAY AT LAKE TAHOE. AS THE COLD FRONT
PUSHES SOUTH IT WILL BRING ENOUGH INSTABILITY TO PRODUCE SPILLOVER
WITH A SHOT OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW INTO EXTREME WESTERN
NV...RENO/CARSON CITY AREA...LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING.
STRONG WINDS AHEAD OF THE FRONT WILL DIMINISH BUT REMAIN GUSTY WHILE
THE HEAVIER SNOW IS FALLING. A SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY HAS
BEEN ISSUED FOR ZONE 3 FROM 4AM TO NOON SUNDAY...PRECEDED BY A WIND
ADVISORY OVERNIGHT AND FOLLOWED BY A HIGH WIND WATCH FOR SUNDAY
AFTERNOON AS THE PRECIP TAPERS OFF. HIGH WIND WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT
FOR MONO COUNTY OVERNIGHT AND SUNDAY WITH ADVISORY LEVEL WIND SPEEDS
EXPECTED IN MINERAL COUNTY. FOR NOW HAVE LEFT CHURCHILL AND PERSHING
COUNTIES OUT OF WIND AND SNOW HEADLINES BUT GRIDS AND ZONES WILL
REFLECT WIND SPEEDS JUST BELOW ADVISORY LEVELS.
SNOWFALL OF 2 OR MORE FEET IS EXPECTED BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT UPPER
ELEVATIONS AROUND LAKE TAHOE FROM THIS STORM SYSTEM...WITH OVER A
FOOT POSSIBLE AT LAKE LEVEL. 2 TO 5 INCHES SPILLOVER INTO WESTERN NV
VALLEYS IS POSSIBLE. THE FRONTAL/PRECIP BAND STALLS AND WEAKENS AS
IT MOVES SOUTH SO SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL IS NOT EXPECTED IN THE SIERRA
IN MONO COUNTY ALTHOUGH SEVERAL INCHES ARE LIKELY ESPECIALLY NORTH
OF MONO LAKE. PRECIP DECREASES ALL AREAS SUNDAY EVENING BUT UPSLOPE
FLOW WILL BRING LESSER ACCUMULATIONS TO THE SIERRA INTO MONDAY. RC
.SHORT TERM...MONDAY AND TUESDAY...
A STRONG STORM WILL AFFECT THE SIERRA MONDAY AND TUESDAY WITH THE
POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY SNOW IN SOME WESTERN VALLEYS AS WELL. ISSUED A
WINTER STORM WATCH FOR THE SIERRA FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON INTO TUESDAY
AFTERNOON...INCLUDING SURPRISE VALLEY. ALSO INCLUDED THE RENO AND
CARSON CITY AREAS MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING.
SNOW WILL CONTINUE IN THE SIERRA SUNDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY MONDAY AND
THEN INCREASE AS JET MOVES INTO AREA AND DYNAMICS BECOME MORE
FAVORABLE. FROM MONDAY MIDDAY THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING THE CREST FROM
TAHOE NORTH COULD SEE UP TO 3 INCHES LIQUID...AND EVEN IF THAT IS ON
THE HIGH SIDE...WITH SNOW RATIOS OF 15 OR 20 TO 1...THE
MONDAY-TUESDAY SIERRA EVENT SHOULD EASILY RESULT IN 2 TO 3 FEET WITH
THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME 4-5 FOOT REPORTS. FOR THE SIERRA SOUTH OF
TAHOE THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL BE LATE MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY
MORNING WITH UP TO 1.5 INCHES LIQUID ALONG THE CREST FOR 2 TO 3
FEET.
PATTERN THAT SETS UP FOR EARLY IN THE WEEK IS SIMILAR TO OTHER HEAVY
SNOW PATTERNS FOR THE RENO-CARSON CITY AREAS. A 518DM LOW AT 500MB
IS POSITIONED OFF OF THE WASHINGTON COAST...JUST SLIGHTLY FURTHER
NORTH THAN WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN A CLASSIC EVENT. COLD POOL
CHARACTERIZED BY -36C TEMPS AT 500MB ALLOWING FOR STRONG
INSTABILITY. THESE SYSTEMS HAVE RELATIVELY LOW PW VALUES BUT THE
VERY LONG FETCH BACKSIDE OF SYSTEM EXTENDING FROM AK TO 35N WILL
PROVIDE AMPLE MOISTURE. CYCLONICALLY CURVED JET PUSHES INTO NRN CA
AND NW NV MONDAY WITH A 140KT CORE. THE LEFT EXIT REGION OF THIS JET
SAGS ACROSS NW NV AND NE CA MONDAY NIGHT AND THE TAHOE-RENO-MONO
COUNTY AREA EARLY TUESDAY. BY EARLY TUESDAY IMPRESSIVE FRONTOGENESIS
IS NOTED AT 700MB...AT 06Z TUE THE AREA IS ALONG I-80 FROM THE
SIERRA TO CENTRAL NV...SAGGING TO THE HWY-50 CORRIDOR BY 12Z AND TO
A TPH-ELY LINE BY 18Z. IF THIS OCCURS COULD SEE A PERIOD OF HEAVY
SNOW IN NEARLY ALL WESTERN VALLEY LOCATIONS LATE MONDAY NIGHT INTO
TUESDAY MORNING...BUT BEST AREA FOR RECEIVING 4+ INCHES IN 12 HOURS
WOULD BE CLOSER TO SIERRA WHERE MOST MOISTURE IS AVAILABLE FOR
SPILLOVER.
ALSO EXPECT ANOTHER HIGH WIND DAY TO THE LEE OF THE SIERRA MONDAY
BEFORE SPILL OVER PRECIPITATION BEGINS. MONDAY INTO EARLY TUESDAY
RIDGE TOP WINDS WILL BE OVER 100MPH.
.LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...
AXIS OF UPPER TROUGH PASSES THROUGH GREAT BASIN TUESDAY NIGHT WITH A
SHORTWAVE DROPPING DOWN BACKSIDE OF TROUGH WHICH WILL BRING ANOTHER
SHOT OF LIGHT AMOUNT SNOW TO THE SIERRA. ANOTHER SHORTWAVE DROPS
THROUGH THE AREA THURSDAY WHICH COULD BRING MORE SNOW SHOWERS. FOR
THE END OF THE WEEK THE ECMWF AND GFS VARY BY UP TO 160DM WITH
RESPECT TO 500MB HEIGHTS. THE ECMWF IS MUCH COLDER WITH NORTHERLY
FLOW WHILE THE GFS IS WARMER WITH A FLAT RIDGE. IF THE EURO SOLUTION
IN CLOSER THEN WE WOULD HAVE COLDER TEMPS AND OCCASIONAL SHOWERS IN
THE SIERRA. CONFIDENCE LOW FOR END OF THE WEEK AND TRENDED THE POPS
TOWARD CLIMATOLOGY SINCE MODEL SOLUTIONS ARE QUITE DIFFERENT.
IF WE DO GET SOME VALLEY SNOW THAT STAYS AROUND OVERNIGHT LOWS UNDER
CLEARING SKIES TUESDAY NIGHT AND WED NIGHT WILL BE MUCH COLDER THAN
FORECAST AS WILL DAYTIME HIGHS DURING MIDWEEK AS SOLAR ENERGY GOES
TOWARD SNOW MELT VERSUS WARMING BOUNDARY LAYER. JAH
&&
.AVIATION...
STORM SYSTEM MOVING INTO THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND SIERRA
CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE WITH CIGS BLO 010 AND VSBY
BLO 1/2SM IN MODERATE AND HEAVY SNOW. MTNS WILL BE OBSCURED THROUGH
00Z MONDAY. RIDGETOP WINDS WILL INCREASE STEADILY AS 100-140KT JET
MOVES ACROSS SIERRA NORTH OF TAHOE BASIN.
FOR KRNO...SFC WINDS WILL CONTINUE FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT 15-20KT
WITH GUSTS TO 30KT BEFORE PRECIPITATION BEGINS TO SPILL OVER THE
CREST. PRECIPITATION WILL DIMINISH WINDS BUT EXPECT LOW LEVEL WIND
SHEAR AFTER 06Z. EXPECT PERIODS OF SNOW IN THE RENO AREA SOMETIME
BETWEEN 09Z-15Z WHICH COULD RESULT IN MVFR-IFR CONDS AND AN INCH OR
2 ACCUMULATION AT THE AIRPORT. EXPECT STRONGEST SFC WINDS AFTER 15Z
SUNDAY AFTER PRECIPITATION ENDS WITH SOUTHWEST WINDS SUSTAINED UP TO
30KT AND G45KT. JAH
&&
.REV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NV...WINTER STORM WATCH FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING
FOR NVZ002.
SNOW ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 AM PST SUNDAY FOR
NVZ005.
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING
FOR NVZ003-004.
LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR NVZ002.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM PST SUNDAY
FOR NVZ002.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 4 AM TO 8 PM PST SUNDAY FOR NVZ001.
SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY FROM 4 AM TO 12 PM PST SUNDAY FOR
NVZ003.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 AM PST SUNDAY FOR
NVZ003.
HIGH WIND WATCH FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR
NVZ003.
CA...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 PM PST SUNDAY FOR CAZ071.
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING
FOR CAZ071-072.
SNOW ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 AM PST SUNDAY FOR
CAZ070.
HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 PM PST SUNDAY FOR
CAZ073.
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING
FOR CAZ073.
LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON FOR CAZ072.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM PST SUNDAY
FOR CAZ072.
&&
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENOHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV 355 PM PST SAT FEB 24 2007 CAZ070>073-NVZ001>005-251530- 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- 355 PM PST SAT FEB 24 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE EASTERN SIERRA... NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND WESTERN NEVADA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SEVERAL WINTER WEATHER AND WIND WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT. SEE THE LATEST WEATHER MESSAGE /WWUS75 KREV NPWREV/ AND WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE /WWUS45 KREV WSWREV/ FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE REGION THROUGH SUNDAY. ANOTHER STRONG STORM IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE REGION BY MONDAY EVENING WITH MORE HEAVY SNOW POSSIBLE IN THE SIERRA AND NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA FROM MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...AND ACCUMULATING SNOW AND STRONG WINDS POSSIBLE IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS OF WESTERN NEVADA. 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. HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
18 heavy snow, 3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A weather spotter in Graeagle reported a total of 10 inches of snowfall at an elevation of 4350 feet.
A weather spotter 3 miles northwest of Janesville reported a total of 10 inches of snowfall at an elevation of 4800 feet.
A weather spotter near Westwood reported a total of 18 inches of snowfall at an elevation of 4600 feet.
A weather spotter 1 mile east of Janesville reported a total of 8 inches of snowfall at an elevation of 4250 feet.
A weather spotter 1 mile north of Janesville reported a total of 19 inches of snowfall.
A weather spotter 4 miles SSW of Prosser Creek Reservoir reported a total of 13 inches of snowfall at an elevation of 6300 feet.
A weather spotter 5 miles west of Portola reported a total of 14 inches of snowfall at an elevation of 5000 feet.
A weather spotter 4 miles north of Meyers reported a total of 9 inches of snowfall.
A weather spotter 5 miles WSW of Heavenly Valley reported a total of 12 inches of snowfall.
Kirkwood Ski Resort reported a 2-day storm total of 41 inches of snowfall.
Squaw Valley Ski Resort reported a 2-day storm total of 26 inches of snowfall at an elevation of 8200 feet, with 18 inches at 6200 feet.
Sugar Bowl ski area reported a 2-day storm total of 60 inches of snowfall at an elevation of 8400 feet, with 34 inches at 6900 feet.
Northstar-at-Tahoe Ski Resort reported a 2-day storm total of 42 inches at an elevation of 8300 feet, with 28 inches at 6800 feet.
Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort reported a 2-day storm total of 31 inches of snowfall at an elevation of 8850 feet, with 24 inches at 6640 feet.
Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort reported a 2-day storm total of 20 inches of snowfall at an elevation of 9000 feet.
Homewood ski area reported a 2-day storm total of 42 inches of snowfall at an elevation of 7900 feet, with 26 inches at 6250 feet.
Alpine Meadows Ski Resort reported a 2-day storm total of 42 inches of snowfall.
A weather spotter reported a total of 12 inches of snowfall at Truckee.
A weather spotter reported strong winds in the vicinity of Crowley Lake. A tractor trailer parked on U.S. Highway 395 was blown over. Several trees were blown down and windows on houses were blown in. The strong winds also blew shingles off of roofs.
The Bridgeport RAWS wind sensor recorded a 51 knot (59 mph) wind gust.
The Walker RAWS wind sensor recorded a 51 knot (59 mph) wind gust.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2007
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: 14128, 14129, 14130, 14132, 14144, 14145, 14158, 14127, 14131, 14149, 14150, 14151, 14152, 14153, 14154, 14155, 14156, 14157, 14146, 14147, 14148.