The Moonlight Fire in Lassen County produced dense smoke across portions of northeast California.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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.
The Moonlight Fire in Lassen County produced dense smoke across portions of northeast California.
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 Sep 4, 8:21 PM PST, 1 hour 39 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
921 PM PDT TUE SEP 4 2007
.UPDATE...
COLD FRONT BLASTING THROUGH THE AREA AND LOWERING TEMPERATURES
INTO THE UPPER 40S AND LOWER 50S OVER PLUMAS...LASSEN AND NORTHERN
WASHOE COUNTIES. IT HAS BEEN A FEW MONTHS SINCE TEMPERATURES HAVE
BEEN THIS LOW DURING THE EVENING. A SURE SIGN THAT SUMMER IS NEARING
AN END AND AUTUMN AND WINTER ARE NOT FAR OFF.
SOME IMPRESSIVE SHOWERS AND STORMS WERE KICKED OFF ALONG THE FRONT
WHEN IT WAS UNDER THE UPPER LOW OVER NORTHWEST NEVADA AND
NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA. STATIONS IN LASSEN AND NORTHERN WASHOE
REPORTED UP TO 0.40 INCHES OF RAIN AND THERE WAS PROBABLY SOME
SMALL HAIL TOO. A FEW SHOWERS ARE STILL OVER NORTHERN WASHOE AND
EXPECT THEM TO CONTINUE TONIGHT WITH THE COLD POOL AND INSTABILITY
PROVIDED BY THE UPPER LOW.
FRONT REACHED THE RENO AREA AROUND 830 AND WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE
SOUTHEAST THROUGH WESTERN NEVADA TONIGHT. BEHIND THE FRONT WINDS
SHIFTED TO THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST WITH 30-40 MPH GUSTS AND
BLOWING DUST. WINDS APPEAR TO BE DROPPING OFF ABOUT 1.5-2 HOURS
AFTER THE FRONTAL PASSAGE. WINDS SOUTH OF I-80 MAY REMAIN A BIT
STRONGER THAT WHAT IS CURRENTLY FORECAST FOR AFTER MIDNIGHT AS THE
FRONT WORKS THROUGH THESE AREAS.
OTHER BIG ISSUE THIS EVENING IS THE SMOKE FROM THE MOONLIGHT FIRE.
THE PLUME WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE ON RADAR...VISIBLE AND IR
SATELLITE...AND SEEING IT FROM THE OFFICE WINDOW. PLUME GREW
RAPIDLY AS THE FRONT INTERACTED WITH IT...WHICH PUSHED SOME EXTRA
MOISTURE AND COLD AIR ALOFT TO INCREASE INSTABILITY TO BUILD A
VERY IMPRESSIVE THE PYROCUMULUS. USED RADAR AND IR SATELLITE TO
ESTIMATE THE TOP OF THE PYROCUMULUS TO 30,000 FEET
WINDS WORKING ON THE PLUME ARE PUSHING TO THE EAST-SOUTHEAST. AS
THE WINDS ALOFT CONTINUE TO BACK TO THE NORTH BEHIND THE UPPER LOW
PLUME WILL PASS OVER EASTERN PLUMAS...SOUTHERN LASSEN. STILL
CONCERNED THE SMOKE COULD REACH THE RENO-SPARKS OR EVEN THE TAHOE
BASIN LATE TONIGHT. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND ISSUE ADDITIONAL
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENTS AS NEEDED.
WILL MAKE UPDATES TO THE PRODUCTS BY 1000 PM TO CLEAN UP THE
HAZARD HEADLINES AND LOWER WINDS NORTH OF I-80 FOR THE REST OF
TONIGHT. REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST ON TRACK. BRONG
&&
.REV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NV...LAKE WIND ADVISORY EXPIRES AT 10 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR
NVZ001-002- 004.
RED FLAG WARNING EXPIRES AT 10 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR
NVZ450-453-459.
CA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY EXPIRES AT 10 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR
CAZ071>073.
RED FLAG WARNING EXPIRES AT 10 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR
CAZ272-273.
&&
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENOHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV 645 AM PDT TUE SEP 4 2007 CAZ070>073-NVZ001>005-050700- 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- 645 AM PDT TUE SEP 4 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE EASTERN SIERRA... NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND WESTERN NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A VIGOROUS AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL PASS THROUGH NORTHERN PORTIONS OF NEVADA TODAY. THIS WILL HELP GENERATE STRONG WINDS OVER MOST OF THE REGION STARTING THIS MORNING AND LASTING INTO THE EVENING. THE HIGHER RIDGES IN THE SIERRA WILL SEE GUSTS INCREASE TO NEAR 50 OR 60 MPH THIS MORNING...WITH GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH LIKELY ACROSS THE REGION TODAY...INCLUDING THE VALLEYS OF WESTERN NEVADA AND EASTERN CALIFORNIA. THESE WINDS CAN CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES SUCH AS SEMIS AND RVS...AND ANY VEHICLE WITH A TRAILER. BE PREPARED FOR ENCOUNTERING GUSTY CROSS WINDS IF TRAVELING THROUGH THE AREA TODAY. IN ADDITION...STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL LIKELY CREATE AREAS OF BLOWING DUST IN WESTERN NEVADA THROUGH THIS EVENING...MAINLY ALONG AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 95. LAKE WIND ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING DUE TO THE HAZARDS THESE WINDS PRESENT TO BOATERS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT INSTANCES OF HIGH WINDS OR BLOWING DUST TUESDAY TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO. MCGUIRE HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV 537 PM PDT TUE SEP 4 2007 NVZ004-005-050115- NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY-WESTERN NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE INCLUDING PYRAMID LAKE- 537 PM PDT TUE SEP 4 2007 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM NORTH OF GERLACH... AT 531 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 18 MILES NORTH OF GERLACH OVER THE GRANITE RANGE...AND MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING...MODERATE RAIN WITH RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF AROUND ONE HALF INCH PER HOUR REDUCING VISIBILITIES TO LESS THAN THREE MILES...SMALL PEA SIZE HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS OF AROUND 30 TO 40 MPH...WITH AREAS OF BLOWING DUST... ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. THROUGH 615 PM PDT...AREAS NORTH OF GERLACH AND THE SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE BLACK ROCK DESERT WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...SEEK SHELTER INDOORS AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS RADIO... WEATHER.GOV/RENO ON THE INTERNET...OR LOCAL MEDIA FOR LATER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS. CS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV 655 PM PDT TUE SEP 4 2007 CAZ071-072-NVZ002-003-050400- LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS-EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES- GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-GREATER RENO-CARSON CITY-MINDEN AREA- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PORTOLA...SUSANVILLE...WESTWOOD... SIERRAVILLE...SOUTH LAKE TAHOE...TAHOE CITY...TRUCKEE... MARKLEEVILLE...GLENBROOK...INCLINE VILLAGE...SPARKS...VERDI... GARDNERVILLE 655 PM PDT TUE SEP 4 2007 ...SMOKE FROM THE MOONLIGHT FIRE... AT 640 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWS A COLD FRONT INTERACTING WITH THE LARGE SMOKE PLUME OF THE MOONLIGHT FIRE. AS THE COLD FRONT PASSES OVER THE FIRE DURING THE NEXT 30 MINUTES...WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTH AND BEGIN TO PUSH THE SMOKE SOUTHWARD TOWARD THE RENO-TAHOE AREA. IF THE SMOKE PLUME HOLDS TOGETHER ESTIMATES THE SMOKE COULD REACH... DOYLE BY 730 PM PDT... COLD SPRINGS...RED ROCK AND STEAD BY 800 PM PDT... DOWNTOWN RENO-SPARKS BY 830 PM... NORTH END OF LAKE TAHOE BY 845 PM... VISIBILITIES WITH THE PLUME MAY DROP BELOW 3 MILES CAUSING TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES ALONG HIGHWAY 395. INDIVIDUALS WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS MAY WANT TO STAY INDOORS LATER THIS EVENING. CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/RENO OR LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION. HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO BRONG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV 825 PM PDT TUE SEP 4 2007 CAZ071-NVZ003-050545- LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS-EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES-GREATER RENO- CARSON CITY-MINDEN AREA- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PORTOLA...SUSANVILLE...WESTWOOD... SIERRAVILLE...SPARKS...VERDI...GARDNERVILLE 825 PM PDT TUE SEP 4 2007 ...UPDATE ON SMOKE FROM THE MOONLIGHT FIRE... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR SHOWS THE LARGE SMOKE PLUME OF THE MOONLIGHT FIRE IS STARTING TO MOVE SOUTH OVER EASTERN PLUMAS COUNTY. THE PLUME WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH SOUTH OVER EASTERN PLUMAS COUNTY AND LASSEN COUNTY SOUTH OF HERLONG THROUGH 1030 PM. THERE REMAINS A CHANCE THE SMOKE WILL REACH PORTIONS OF THE RENO SPARKS AREA LATER THIS EVENING. AS TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO COOL THE SMOKE PLUME WILL REMAIN CLOSER TO THE GROUND. THIS WILL ALLOW THE SMOKE TO REDUCE VISIBILITIES TO BELOW 3 MILES. INDIVIDUALS WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS MAY WANT TO STAY INDOORS THIS EVENING. CHECK OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/RENO OR LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION. HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO BRONG
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 dense smoke. Local standard time, as filed.
Dense smoke from the Moonlight Fire in Lassen County affected much of Lassen, eastern Plumas, and eastern Sierra Counties for almost a week. Visibilities were occasionally down to less than one-half mile.
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, September 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: 53568.