A winter storm brought over two feet of snow to parts of the Sierra Nevada and a rare white Christmas to much of western Nevada.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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 winter storm brought over two feet of snow to parts of the Sierra Nevada and a rare white Christmas to much of 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 Dec 24, 3:48 AM PST, 3 hours 12 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
348 AM PST WED DEC 24 2008
.SHORT TERM...
VERY ACTIVE SHORT TERM TAKING SHAPE AS MOIST INITIAL LOW
APPROACHES THE SRN CA COAST AND A STRONGER UPPER LOW DIGS OUT OF
THE GULF OF ALASKA. THE INITIAL LOW IS STILL WELL OFF THE COAST
HOWEVER RADAR IMAGERY ALREADY SHOWING EXCELLENT OVERRUNNING
PRECIP OVER NRN CA. THIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH VERY STRONG ISENTROPIC
LIFT AND ABUNDANT MOISTURE AHEAD OF THE RELATIVELY WEAK INITIAL
SYSTEM. WITH GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING EARLY LAST NIGHT PROVIDING
COLD AND DRY AIR AT THE SURFACE...PRECIP WILL BE ALL SNOW THIS
MORNING DUE TO THE WET BULB EFFECT. THE HEAVIEST SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS TODAY ASSOCIATED WITH THE INITIAL LOW WILL BE IN
LASSEN COUNTY AND THE SIERRA NORTH OF LAKE TAHOE.
MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE AN IMPRESSIVE DEFORMATION BAND
SETTING UP JUST NORTH OF I-80 THIS MORNING EXTENDING FROM THE
SIERRA ALL THE WAY TO WINNEMUCCA. MODEL PERFORMANCE IN SIMILAR
PAST EVENTS UNDERESTIMATED THESE FEATURES AND ALSO POSITIONED THEM
SLIGHTLY TOO FAR TO THE NORTH. DECIDED TO UPGRADE THE WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY FOR ZONES 3 AND 4 TO A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR
HEAVY SNOW ALONG THE I-80 CORRIDOR THIS MORNING. THERE WILL BE A
RATHER ABRUPT SOUTH EDGE TO THIS BAND OF HEAVY SNOW SO AREAS SOUTH
OF HIGHWAY 50 WILL SEE VERY LITTLE SNOW THIS MORNING. ANOTHER
REASON FOR THE UPGRADE WILL BE THE GUSTY WINDS THAT DEVELOP THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ALTHOUGH THERE WILL BE A DISTINCT BREAK IN
THE PRECIP EAST OF THE SIERRA...WIND GUSTS NEAR 50 MPH WILL CAUSE
WIDESPREAD BLOWING SNOW AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES WHICH COULD BE
QUITE PROBLEMATIC.
THE STRONGER UPPER LOW DIGS DOWN THE PACNW COAST THIS EVENING
STRENGTHENING THE FLOW ALOFT. THIS WILL INCREASE SNOWFALL RATES IN
THE SIERRA WITH BETTER OROGRAPHIC FLOW AND CONTINUED ISENTROPIC
UPGLIDE. DYNAMICS WILL ALSO BE ENHANCED BY A GOOD COUPLED JET
STRUCTURE AS WELL AS STRONG LOW LEVEL FRONTOGENESIS. H7 TEMPS WARM
TO -4C BY THIS EVENING SO SNOW LEVELS MAY BRIEFLY RISE TO 6000
FEET IN THE RENO-TAHOE AREA. THE FRONT SLOWLY DRAGS ACROSS NRN
CA/NV THIS EVENING AND CHRISTMAS MORNING BRINGING THE STRONGEST
WINDS. H7 FLOW IS AS HIGH AS 70 KTS AHEAD OF THE FRONT WHICH WILL
BRING VERY STRONG WINDS TO THE SIERRA AS WELL AS A FEW HOURS OF
DOWNSLOPE WINDS IN THE LEE OF THE SIERRA. GUSTS OVER SIERRA RIDGES
WILL BE AS HIGH AS 140 MPH WITH GUSTS IN SIERRA VALLEYS INCLUDING
THE TAHOE BASIN FROM 40 TO 60 MPH. THIS WILL CREATE A PROLONGED
PERIOD OF WHITEOUT AND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS OVERNIGHT SO WILL BE
BEEFING UP THE WORDING IN THE WINTER STORM WARNING.
THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL RATES WILL BE ALONG THE COLD FRONT WHICH IS
EXPECTED TO PASS SUSANVILLE AROUND MIDNIGHT...THE RENO-TAHOE AREA
BY 4 AM...AND THROUGH MONO COUNTY BY NOON ON CHRISTMAS DAY. SNOW
SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH CHRISTMAS DAY BEHIND THE FRONT IN
COLD UNSTABLE AIRMASS. ALSO THE NAM AND EURO BRING ANOTHER SLIDER-
LIKE VORT MAX THROUGH THE REGION CHRISTMAS NIGHT WHICH WOULD
ENHANCE THE SHOWERS. CONSIDERED EXTENDING ALL THE STATEMENTS TO
COVER THIS LATER TIMING BUT DECIDED ITS TOO EARLY TO DECIDE NOW
AND WILL LET LATER SHIFTS MAKE THE CHANGE. ONCE THE STORM CLEARS
THURSDAY NIGHT...ACCUMULATIONS IN THE SIERRA SHOULD BE AROUND 2
FEET AT LOWER LEVELS WITH UP TO 4 FEET AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.
WRN NEVADA VALLEYS COULD SEE 4 TO 8 INCHES AROUND RENO WITH HIGHER
AMOUNTS FURTHER NORTH TOWARD THE OREGON BORDER...POSSIBLY EVEN A
FOOT IN THE SURPRISE VALLEY. ALL IN ALL THIS STORM IS SHAPING UP
TO BE MUCH MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN THE LAST FEW BRUSHBY SYSTEMS.
RIDGING OVER THE WEST COAST FRIDAY BRINGS WARMING ALOFT AND MUCH
LESS CLOUD COVER. THERE IS FAST MOVING EMBEDDED ENERGY IN THE
MOIST FLOW THROUGH THE PACNW BY FRIDAY EVENING...HOWEVER THE
RIDGE SHOULD PUSH ANY PRECIP NORTH OF THE CWA. JORDAN
.LONG TERM...SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...
FEW CHANGES MADE TO LONG TERM AS FOCUS IS ON CURRENT INCOMING STORM.
ZONAL FLOW WITH MILDER TEMPERATURES EXPECTED AND MODELS IN
REASONABLY GOOD AGREEMENT. STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY AS TO HOW FAR
SOUTH MOISTURE WILL MAKE IT...BUT A BIT HIGHER CONFIDENCE THIS
MORNING THAT IT WILL BE AT LEAST NEAR THE OREGON BORDER. KEPT
GENERAL CHC POPS THERE THRU THE PERIOD WITH SEVERAL SHORT WAVES
MOVING THROUGH INTO THE PACNW. SLIGHT CHC FURTHER SOUTH ALONG THE
SIERRA AND DRY ELSEWHERE. WALLMANN
&&
.AVIATION...
MAJOR WINTER STORM BEARING DOWN ACROSS THE AREA. WILL BREAK OUT BY
TERMINALS BELOW AND CONFIDENCE IS HIGH ALL TERMINALS WILL SEE MAJOR
IMPACTS.
KRNO...EXPECT SNOW TO INCREASE AROUND 12Z AND CONTINUE THRU 20-21Z.
SNOW WILL BE MODERATE AT TIMES. 95 PCT CONFIDENCE OF PERIODS OF IFR
CIGS/VIS...VIS BLO 2 SM AND CIGS AROUND 1 KFT. FORCING IS SO STRONG
THIS MORNING...ABOUT 60 PCT CONFIDENT OF PERIODS OF 1/2SM SN BETWEEN
16-20Z. ACCUMULATION EXPECTED TO BE 3-5 INCHES...MOST LIKELY 4. SNOW
WILL MIX WITH RAIN AFTER 21Z BEFORE ENDING 22-23Z. ABOUT 15 PCT
CHANCE OF A BRIEF PERIOD OF ICING DURING THE CHANGEOVER PD. WINDS
THEN INCREASE WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 40-45KTS POSSIBLE 02-08Z. IF TEMPS
DO NOT WARM TOO MUCH...THERE WILL BE SOME BLOWING/DRIFTING SNOW.
THEN ANOTHER PD OF IFR CIGS/VIS BETWEEN 08-14Z THU AS STG COLD FRONT
MOVES THRU.
KLOL...SIMILAR TO KRNO...XCP TIMING IS 18-21Z FOR WORST CONDITIONS
WITH ACCUMULATION 3-4 INCHES. TIMING OF THE BREAK IS FROM 00-08Z
THU. WINDS ALSO WILL NOT BE AS STRONG HERE XCP NEAR THE FRONT
AROUND 08-14Z.
KTRK-KTVL...IFR CIGS/VIS DUE TO SNOW BY 14Z WHICH WILL CONTINUE THRU
14Z THUR...CONFIDENCE ABOVE 90 PCT. ANY BREAKS WILL BE SHORT
LIVED AND NO MORE THAN 20-30 MINUTES. AFT 00Z AND THRU 12Z...WINDS
INCREASE WITH GUSTS TO 40 KTS AT BOTH TERMINALS. PDS OF BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS WITH VIS NEAR ZERO AT TIMES IN SN AND BLSN. NEAR 100
PCT CONFIDENCE OF ACCUMULATION OF 1 FOOT PLUS AT BOTH TERMINALS.
WALLMANN
&&
.REV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NV...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM PST THURSDAY FOR NVZ005.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 12 PM PST THURSDAY FOR NVZ002.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 12 PM PST
THURSDAY FOR NVZ003-004.
CA...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM PST THURSDAY FOR CAZ070-071.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 12 PM PST THURSDAY FOR CAZ072-073.
&&
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENOThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 heavy snow, 1 avalanche. Local standard time, as filed.
The following storm total snowfall amounts were reported:
5 miles NNW of Cedarville, 6.0 inches; |1 mile west of Cedarville, 5.0 inches; and |2 miles NE of Ft. Bidwell, 4.0 inches.
The following storm total snowfall amounts were reported:
Portola, 10.0 inches; |1 mile south of Chilcoot, 8.5 inches; |1 mile west of Doyle (elev. 4500 ft), 8.0 inches; |1 mile north of Red Rock, 8.0 inches; |1 mile east of Sloat (elev. 4200 ft), 6.5 inches; |south Bieber (4100 ft), 6.0 inches; |5 miles south of Janesville, 6.0 inches; and |2 miles west of Blairsden (elev. 4350 ft), 5.0 inches.
The following storm total snowfall amounts were reported:
4 miles west of Prosser Creek Reservoir, 24.0 inches; |Squaw Valley Ski Resort (elev. 8200 ft), 22.0 inches; |6 miles WSW of Prosser Creek Reservoir (elev. 7300 ft), 22.0 inches; |Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, 20.0 inches; |Tahoma (elev. 6350 ft), 17.0 inches; |4 miles SSW of Prosser Creek Reservoir, 16.0 inches; |5 miles WSW of Boca Reservoir, 16.0 inches; |Kings Beach (elev. 6300 ft), 12.0 inches; and |Homewood Ski Resort, 10.0 inches.
The following storm total snowfall amounts were reported:
Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort (elev. 9000 ft), 30.0 inches; |1 mile WNW of Mammoth Lakes (elev. 8200 ft), 26.0 inches; |2 miles west of Mammoth Lakes (7800 ft), 12.0 inches; |Toms Place (elev. 7000 ft), 7.0 inches; and |Bridgeport (elev. 6500 ft), 6.5 inches.
The Sacramento Bee newspaper reported that a 21-year-old skier died in an avalanche in the Sierra on Christmas morning. The newspaper reported that the skier's body was found buried following an avalanche in the Red Dog area at Squaw Valley Ski Resort. The victim was a resident of Tahoe City.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avalanche, Greater Lake Tahoe Area | 2008-12-25 | 21 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in California, December 2008
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: 146460, 146468, 146470, 146469, 146289.