An approaching storm system produced a downslope windstorm in the lee of the Sierra on the 2nd, followed by high winds across much of the Mojave Desert on the 3rd.
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 VEF wrote it up.
An approaching storm system produced a downslope windstorm in the lee of the Sierra on the 2nd, followed by high winds across much of the Mojave Desert on the 3rd.
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 Las Vegas, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 3, 2:47 PM PST, 1 hour 21 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV 347 PM PDT FRI APR 3 2009 .SYNOPSIS...A VIGOROUS LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER SOUTHERN NEVADA WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST TONIGHT ALLOWING THE STRONG WIND AND SHOWERS TO DECREASE. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE OVER THE AREA THIS WEEKEND...THEN THE NEXT STORM WILL MOVE INTO THE SOUTHWEST STATES NEXT TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. && .SHORT TERM...VIGOROUS UPPER LOW OVER SOUTHERN NEVADA WILL CONTINUE TO WORK EAST INTO THE FOUR CORNERS REGION TONIGHT. THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT LIES ACROSS SOUTHERN MOHAVE AND EASTERN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES. STRONG WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY EVENING HOURS AHEAD OF AND JUST FOLLOWING THE COLD FRONT FOR OUR FAR SOUTHERN ZONES. BEHIND THE COLD FRONT SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENTS HAVE RELAXED QUICKLY ALLOWING FOR THE WINDS TO SETTLE DOWN. THE EXCEPTION WOULD BE NARROW NORTH/SOUTH VALLEYS LIKE THE OWENS AND IN CENTRAL NYE COUNTY WERE A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS POSTED UNTIL 8 PM. THE WIND WILL GRADUALLY SUBSIDE AREAWIDE AFTER 8 PM AS THE STORM MOVES AWAY TO OUR EAST. TEMPERATURES WILL BE WELL BELOW NORMAL TOMORROW BUT WARM QUICKLY BACK CLOSER TO NORMAL SUNDAY UNDER HIGH PRESSURE. .LONG TERM...NOT MUCH CHANGE DONE TO THE LONG TERM FORECAST DUE TO SHORT TERM WEATHER CONCERNS...THOUGHT THE MODELS DO SHOW SOME CHANGES IN THE TRACK OF MAJOR LOW WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE PAST FEW DAYS. ECMWF AND GFS BOTH TAKING A MORE NORTHERLY TRACK WITH LOW ON TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY AS IT EJECTS INLAND. FOR NOW STILL EXPECT TO SEE SLIGHT CHANCE TO CHANCE POPS LATE TUESDAY AND INTO WEDNESDAY WITH BETTER CHANCES OVER THE SIERRA AND AND NORTHERN ZONES MOUNTAINS. DID LOWER WIND SPEEDS A BIT AS WELL DUE TO NEW TRACK. SOME CHANGES ALSO FOR DAY EIGHT NEXT WEEK. 3/00Z MODEL RUNS HAD NEXT SYSTEM/LOW GOING INTO BAJA/NORTHWEST MEXICO AND 12Z RUNS FURTHER NORTH AND AND BRINGS THE POSSIBILITY OF PRECIPITATION TO US THEN. LEFT FORECAST OF WIDELY ISOLATED POPS IN OLD FORECAST IN AS CONFIDENCE THAT FAR OUT IS LOW. && .AVIATION...FOR MCCARRAN...A FEW HOURS AFTER THE FRONTAL PASSAGE WINDS ARE SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT TO FORECAST. AS OF NOW EXPECT THEM TO STAY NORTH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 25 KNOTS. THEY SHOULD SHIFT BACK TO NORTHWEST TO NORTH AROUND 03Z AND BE AROUND 10 KNOTS. HOWEVER...EXPECT THEM TO BE VERY VARIABLE IN DIRECTION. THE CEILINGS SHOULD ALSO MOVE OUT THIS EVENING AS WELL. WINDS WILL BE GUSTY AFTER SUNRISE SATURDAY FROM THE NORTH AND THEN DECREASE AND GO NORTHEAST UNDER TEN KNOTS IN THE AFTERNOON. FOR THE REST OF SOUTHERN NEVADA...NORTHWEST ARIZONA...AND SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA...GUSTY NORTH WINDS OVER MOST OF THE AREA WILL SUBSIDE THIS EVENING. THE EXCEPTION WILL BE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY WHERE WEST WINDS WILL GUST TO UP TO 40 KNOTS AND BRING SOME AREAS OF LOW VISIBILITY IN BLOWING DUST. TURBULENCE OVER AREA MOUNTAINS WILL C CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHT BEFORE WINDS ALOFT SUBSIDE. THE CEILINGS IN MOHAVE COUNTY AROUND 3000-6000 AGL WILL MOVE OUT BY MIDNIGHT. SATURDAY WILL SEE GUSTY NORTH WINDS UNDER 20 KNOTS IN MOST PLACES AND FEW CLOUDS TO CLEAR SKIES. . && .VEF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NV...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR NVZ014. AZ...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM MST THIS EVENING FOR AZZ002-003. CA...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR CAZ520-523-524-527. HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 8 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR CAZ525-526. && PIERCE/JACQUES HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGAS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV 445 AM PDT FRI APR 3 2009 CAZ519>521-040700- EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES-OWENS VALLEY-WHITE MOUNTAINS OF INYO COUNTY- 445 AM PDT FRI APR 3 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT VERY STRONG WEST WINDS THIS MORNING WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTH AS A COLD FRONT PASSES THROUGH. A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM...AND A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM UNTIL 8 PM. FOR MORE DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO PRODUCT RNONPWVEF. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY AS THE NEXT STORM MOVES IN. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER REPORTS WILL BE NEEDED TODAY. SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT WEATHER AS SOON AS IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. CAZ523-040700- WESTERN MOJAVE DESERT- 445 AM PDT FRI APR 3 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT GUSTY WEST WINDS THIS MORNING WILL INCREASE EVEN MORE AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES LATE THIS MORNING. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM...AND A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM UNTIL 8 PM. FOR MORE DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO PRODUCT RNONPWVEF. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY AS THE NEXT STORM MOVES IN. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER REPORTS WILL BE NEEDED TODAY. SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT WEATHER AS SOON AS IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. CAZ524>526-040700- EASTERN MOJAVE DESERT-MORONGO BASIN-CADIZ BASIN- 445 AM PDT FRI APR 3 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT VERY STRONG WEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TODAY AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES. A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM UNTIL 8 PM. FOR MORE DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO PRODUCT RNONPWVEF. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY AS THE NEXT STORM MOVES IN. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER REPORTS WILL BE NEEDED TODAY. SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT WEATHER AS SOON AS IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. NVZ014-040700- ESMERALDA AND CENTRAL NYE COUNTY- 445 AM PDT FRI APR 3 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT VERY STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED BEHIND A COLD FRONT WHICH WILL PASS THROUGH THIS MORNING. A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM UNTIL 8 PM. FOR MORE DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO PRODUCT RNONPWVEF. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY AS THE NEXT STORM MOVES IN. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER REPORTS WILL BE NEEDED TODAY. SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT WEATHER AS SOON AS IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. NVZ018-019-040700- SHEEP RANGE-SPRING MOUNTAINS- 445 AM PDT FRI APR 3 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT GUSTY WEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND ON THE EAST FACING SLOPES TODAY. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM. FOR MORE DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO PRODUCT RNONPWVEF. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY AS THE NEXT STORM MOVES IN. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER REPORTS WILL BE NEEDED TODAY. SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT WEATHER AS SOON AS IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. AZZ001>003-036-CAZ522-527-NVZ015>017-020>022-040700- NORTHWEST PLATEAU-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-NORTHWEST DESERTS- LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA-DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK- SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY-UPPER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-LINCOLN COUNTY- NORTHEAST CLARK COUNTY-WESTERN CLARK AND SOUTHERN NYE COUNTY- LAS VEGAS VALLEY-SOUTHERN CLARK COUNTY- 445 AM PDT FRI APR 3 2009 /445 AM MST FRI APR 3 2009/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST ARIZONA...CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL DEVELOP THIS MORNING AND THEN SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST DURING THE DAY AS A COLD FRONT PASSES THROUGH. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM UNTIL 8 PM. FOR MORE DETAILS...PLEASE REFER TO PRODUCT RNONPWVEF. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ANOTHER ROUND OF STRONG WINDS WILL BE POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY AS THE NEXT STORM MOVES IN. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER REPORTS WILL BE NEEDED TODAY. SPOTTERS SHOULD REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT WEATHER AS SOON AS IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. MORGAN
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
1142 AM PDT FRI APR 03 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0951 AM NON-TSTM WND GST DAGGETT 34.86N 116.88W
04/03/2009 M55 MPH SAN BERNARDINO CA ASOS
THIS GUST WAS RECORDED AT DAGGETT ASOS AT 1926 FEET IN
ELEVATION.
0651 AM NON-TSTM WND GST SQUAW SPRINGS RAWS 35.37N 117.57W
04/03/2009 M64 MPH SAN BERNARDINO CA MESONET
THIS WIND GUST WAS RECORDED AT SQUAW SPRINGS RAWS AT 3620
FEET ELEVATION.
1056 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 WNW GREEN VALLEY 36.08N 115.16W
04/03/2009 M43 MPH CLARK NV ASOS
THIS WIND GUST WAS RECORDED AT LAS VEGAS MCCARRAN ASOS.
0953 AM NON-TSTM WND GST 4 NW DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS 36.21N 115.20W
04/03/2009 M46 MPH CLARK NV ASOS
THIS WIND GUST WAS MEASURED AT NORTH LAS VEGAS ASOS.
1059 AM NON-TSTM WND GST KINGMAN AIRPORT 35.26N 113.93W
04/03/2009 M49 MPH MOHAVE AZ ASOS
THIS WIND GUST WAS MEASURED AT THE KINGMAN ASOS.
&&
ELPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
1247 PM PDT FRI APR 03 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1215 PM NON-TSTM WND GST I-40 AT FORT ROCK 35.19N 113.37W
04/03/2009 M50 MPH MOHAVE AZ DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
THIS WIND GUST WAS MEASURED AT I-40 AND FORT ROCK AZDOT.
1110 AM NON-TSTM WND GST SIERRA ROTORS 02 36.78N 118.24W
04/03/2009 M47 MPH INYO CA MESONET
THIS WIND GUST WAS MEASURED AT SIERRA ROTORS SITE 2 AT
4842 FEET IN ELEVATION
&&
ELPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
143 PM PDT FRI APR 03 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0123 PM NON-TSTM WND GST TWENTYNINE PALMS 34.14N 116.07W
04/03/2009 M60 MPH SAN BERNARDINO CA ASOS
THIS WIND GUST WAS MEASURED AT TWENTYNINE PALMS ASOS.
&&
ELThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
This gust occurred at Nellis Air Force Base (KLSV).
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, April 2009
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: 156496.