Very moist pacific air produced very heavy snows across White Pine County, especially the southeastern half. Snowfall of 1 to 2 feet were common in the valleys with nearly 3 feet in some of the mountains.
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 LKN wrote it up.
Very moist pacific air produced very heavy snows across White Pine County, especially the southeastern half. Snowfall of 1 to 2 feet were common in the valleys with nearly 3 feet in some of the mountains.
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 Elko, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 19, 6:30 PM PST, 6 hours 30 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKO NV 630 PM PST SUN DEC 19 2010 .SYNOPSIS...A LARGE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OFF THE WEST COAST WILL CONTINUE TO BRING PERIODS OF RAIN AND SNOW THROUGH WEDNESDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING DRY WEATHER BEGINNING THURSDAY AND CONTINUING THROUGH CHRISTMAS DAY. && .UPDATE...WINDS AT THE RUBY VALLEY RAWS HAVE INCREASED OVER THE LAST HOUR..SO HAVE DECIDED TO BUMP UP THE WIND ADVISORY START TIME TO 6 PM THIS EVENING. ALSO...THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR HUMBOLDT COUNTY HAS BEEN CANCELED. LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING...AND AS SUCH ONLY EXPECTING ABOUT ANOTHER INCH OR SO OF ACCUMULATION. AFFECTED GRIDS HAVE BEEN UPDATED AND SENT...WILL BE ISSUING TEXT PRODUCTS SHORTLY. .UPDATED AVIATION...STRONG COLD FRONT PROGRESSING ACROSS NORTHEAST NEVADA THIS EVENING ON SCHEDULE. FOR AVIATION...PRIMARY IMPACT WILL BE VERY STRONG WINDS AHEAD OF AND NEAR FROPA...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER GUSTS TO 45 KT POSSIBLE. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DIMINISH AFTER FRONTAL PASSAGE AT EACH TAF SITE. IN ADDITION...SCATTERED RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 06Z. ALL PRECIP TO CHANGE TO SNOW FROM NORTH TO SOUTH THIS EVENING. SHSN WILL BE MODERATE TO HEAVY AT TIMES...WITH LIFR CEILINGS/VISIBILITIES. GIVEN SHOWERY NATURE...VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AT ANY GIVEN TAF SITE SHOULD BE SHORT LIVED. THE EXCEPTION TO THIS IS KELY WHERE WIDESPREAD SNOW WILL DEVELOP BY 12Z MONDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF MONDAY...WILL ADDRESS THIS WITH THE 06Z TAF ISSUANCE. OTHERWISE...PRECIP EXPECTED TO END QUICKLY BY MIDNIGHT AT KEKO/KWMC...AND ABOUT 15Z MONDAY AT KTPH. BT && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED AT 334 PM / SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. COLD FRONT PUSHING SOUTHEAST ACROSS HUMBOLDT COUNTY THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL MOVE INTO ELKO AROUND 7 PM AND ELY 10 PM. GENERALLY EXPECTING 1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW IN THE VALLEYS WITH COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE. SNOW WILL MOSTLY END ACROSS THE NORTH SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. THE COLD FRONT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BRING STRONG GUSTY WINDS TO THE LEE SLOPES OF THE RUBY MOUNTAINS AND EAST HUMBOLDT RANGE AND ADJACENT VALLEYS WHERE A WIND ADVISORY WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM TO 4 AM TONIGHT FOR WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH. FRONTAL BOUNDARY STALLS OUT ACROSS THE SRN THIRD OF WHITE PINE COUNTY LATE TONIGHT WITH MOISTURE CONTINUING TO FEED INTO THE AREA FROM THE SOUTHWEST THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. BOTH THE GFS/ECMWF HAVE PRETTY IMPRESSIVE PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING RANGING FROM 3/4 INCH TO OVER 1 INCH. THE AIR MASS WILL REMAIN COLD ENOUGH FOR THIS TO BE ALL SNOW DOWN TO MOST VALLEY FLOORS SO EXPECTING 5 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW IN THE VALLEYS WITH 1 TO 2 FEET IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 7000 FEET BY TUESDAY MORNING. THIS WILL PRIMARILY AFFECT THE SOUTHEASTERN THIRD OF WHITE PINE COUNTY FROM ELY TO POINTS SOUTH AND EAST. FOR NRN NEVADA ON MONDAY. IN NRN NEVADA ONLY LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS EXPECTED ACROSS PRIMARILY THE ERN HALF ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY AS NO SIGNIFICANT IMPULSES WILL BE COMING OUT OF OFFSHORE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM. LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY THROUGH NEXT SATURDAY NIGHT. LONG TERM PATTERN WILL BE A TRANSITION PERIOD FROM THE STRONG -ARCTIC OSCILLATION BLOCKING PATTERN TO A MORE MERIDIONAL PROGRESSIVE FLOW ACROSS THE LOWER CONUS. SOME SMALL TIMING AND STRENGTH DIFFERENCES IN THE MODELS...BUT THE GFS/EC/GEM ALL HAVE A SIMILAR HANDLE ON SHORTWAVE FEATURES MOVING THROUGH THE GREAT BASIN THIS PERIOD. PRECIP WILL BE ABOVE AVG W/ AVG TEMPS. THIS PERIOD WILL BEGIN WITH A 500MB PACIFIC SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVING THROUGH NEVADA ON WEDNESDAY. THE FEATURE WILL BE WEAKENING AS IT MOVES THROUGH AREA...BUT STILL A 550DAM HEIGHT OVER TPH AT 06Z. SYSTEM HAS DEEP MOISTURE TAP ONCE AGAIN...AND A DEFINED TONOPAH SURFACE LOW. LOOKS LIKE A RAIN/SNOW MIX ON THE FRONT SIDE OF THE LOW DURING DAYLIGHT HRS...WITH SNOW ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE SYSTEM WEDNESDAY NIGHT. SEASONABLE TEMPS AND PARTIAL CLEARING EXPECTED BY THURSDAY...AS 500MB HEIGHTS START TO BUILD OVER THE GREAT BASIN. RIDGE AMPLIFIES IN RESPONSE OF DEEPENING TROUGH OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN...BRINGING A MUCH NEEDED BREAK FROM THE WX ON CHRISTMAS EVE DAY. TEMPS LOOKS TO MODERATE BACK INTO THE 40S...WITH STRONG SOUTHERLY FLOW AND MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES. CHRISTMAS DAY ALSO LOOKS GOOD WITH ABOVE AVG TEMPS AND HIGH CLOUDS INCREASING FROM WEST TO EAST AS THE NEXT PACIFIC TROUGH REACHES CALIFORNIA. && .LKN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 AM PST MONDAY FOR NORTHERN ELKO COUNTY. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM PST MONDAY FOR THE EASTERN SLOPES OF THE RUBY MOUNTAINS/EAST HUMBOLDT RANGE IN THE RUBY MOUNTAINS/EAST HUMBOLDT RANGE...SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ELKO COUNTY. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM PST TUESDAY FOR WHITE PINE COUNTY. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 1 AM PST MONDAY FOR RUBY MOUNTAINS/EAST HUMBOLDT RANGE. && 86/99
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKO NV 638 PM PST SUN DEC 19 2010 NVZ031-032-034-210245- NORTHERN ELKO COUNTY-SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ELKO COUNTY- RUBY MOUNTAINS/EAST HUMBOLDT RANGE- 638 PM PST SUN DEC 19 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. A COLD FRONT WILL BRING SNOW AND WIND TO THE AREA TONIGHT. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES AND WARNINGS HAVE BEEN POSTED. PLEASE SEE PRODUCT RNOWSWLKN FOR DETAILS. ALSO A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN POSTED FOR THE LEE SLOPES OF THE RUBY MOUNTAINS AND EAST HUMBOLDT RANGE. PLEASE SEE PRODUCT RNONPWLKN FOR DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. PERIODS OF RAIN AND SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY THEN DRY WEATHER WILL COMMENCE ON THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO REPORT WEATHER PHENOMENA ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE. NVZ035-210245- WHITE PINE COUNTY- 638 PM PST SUN DEC 19 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. A COLD FRONT WILL BRING MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS TO THE AREA LATER TONIGHT. AS A RESULT...A WINTER STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF WHITE PINE COUNTY THROUGH TUESDAY. CURRENT STORM TOTAL AMOUNTS FORECASTED ARE 5 TO 10 INCHES IN THE VALLEYS WITH 1 TO 2 FEET IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 7000 FEET BY TUESDAY MORNING. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS STORM...PLEASE SEE PRODUCT RNOWSWLKN. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. A WINTER STORM WARNING WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. DRY WEATHER WILL RETURN BY THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO REPORT WEATHER PHENOMENA ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE. NVZ013-033-036-037-210245- NORTHERN NYE COUNTY-EXTREME EASTERN ELKO COUNTY- NORTHERN LANDER COUNTY AND NORTHERN EUREKA COUNTY- SOUTHERN LANDER COUNTY AND SOUTHERN EUREKA COUNTY- 638 PM PST SUN DEC 19 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NEVADA...NORTHEAST NEVADA AND SOUTH CENTRAL NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. A COLD FRONT WILL BRING 1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW TO THE VALLEYS TONIGHT. STRONG SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH WILL BE WIDESPREAD DURING THE EVENING...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH POSSIBLE. WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DIMINISH LATER TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. PERIODS OF RAIN AND SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY THEN DRY WEATHER WILL RETURN ON THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO REPORT WEATHER PHENOMENA ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE. NVZ030-210245- HUMBOLDT COUNTY- 638 PM PST SUN DEC 19 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS HUMBOLDT COUNTY THIS EVENING...WITH ACCUMULATIONS OF AN INCH POSSIBLE. STRONG WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. LOCALLY HIGHER GUSTS TO 45 MPH ARE POSSIBLE...WITH WINDS DIMINISHING LATER THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. PERIODS OF RAIN AND SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY THEN DRY WEATHER WILL COMMENCE ON THURSDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO REPORT WEATHER PHENOMENA ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKO NV
837 PM PST SUN DEC 19 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0337 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 6 SW PARADISE VALLEY 41.45N 117.62W
12/19/2010 M62 MPH HUMBOLDT NV MESONET
MOREY CREEK RAWS.
&&
86PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKO NV
838 PM PST SUN DEC 19 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0641 PM NON-TSTM WND GST JARBIDGE 41.88N 115.42W
12/19/2010 M64 MPH ELKO NV MESONET
JARBIDGE RAWS.
&&
86PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKO NV
839 PM PST SUN DEC 19 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0726 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 10 WSW GIBBS RANCH 41.52N 115.39W
12/19/2010 M64 MPH ELKO NV MESONET
STAG MOUNTAIN RAWS
&&
86PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKO NV
840 PM PST SUN DEC 19 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0626 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 10 WNW JIGGS 40.46N 115.85W
12/19/2010 M63 MPH ELKO NV MESONET
CRANE SPRINGS RAWS
&&
86PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKO NV
841 PM PST SUN DEC 19 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0503 PM NON-TSTM WND GST RUBY VALLEY 40.78N 115.19W
12/19/2010 M69 MPH ELKO NV MESONET
RUBY VALLEY RAWS
&&
86PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKO NV
842 PM PST SUN DEC 19 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1223 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 2 WNW GREAT BASIN NATIO 39.02N 114.27W
12/19/2010 M65 MPH WHITE PINE NV MESONET
MATHER RAWS
&&
86The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
A very moist air mass off the Pacific Ocean produced very heavy snows across White Pine County, primarily the southeastern half. Snowfall of 15 to 20 inches were common in the valleys with up to 30 inches in the mountains.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, December 2010
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: 265665.