A cold Pacific storm brought locally heavy low elevation snow to the Mojave Desert.
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.
A cold Pacific storm brought locally heavy low elevation snow to the Mojave Desert.
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 Jan 2, 3:45 PM PST, 1 hour 15 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
345 PM PST SUN JAN 2 2011
.SYNOPSIS...MOISTURE WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE MOJAVE DESERT AND
SOUTHERN GREAT BASIN TONIGHT WITH SNOW LEVELS APPROACHING THE LOWER
VALLEY FLOORS. RAIN AND SNOW WILL PERSIST THROUGH MONDAY LOW
PRESSURE SLOWLY TRACKS EAST. THE SYSTEM WILL EXIT MONDAY NIGHT...AND
DRY WEATHER IS EXPECTED TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ALONG WITH WARMING
TEMPERATURES.
&&
.SHORT TERM...LOW PRESSURE TRACKING DOWN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
COAST HAS BEEN SPREADING MOISTURE EAST NORTHEAST WITH PLENTY OF
RADAR RETURNS OVER SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY. HOWEVER...THERE HAVE BEEN
NO REPORTS OF SNOW AS OF YET AS DEW POINT DEPRESSIONS REMAIN
LARGE....BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE HEAVIER PRECIPITATION IS STILL
APPROACHING SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY AND EXPECT SNOW TO BEGIN WITHIN
THE NEXT FEW HOURS. MAIN CONCERNS FOR SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY WILL BE
ALONG THE I-15 CORRIDOR...ESPECIALLY MOUNTAIN PASS OVERNIGHT. SNOW
HAS BEEN FALLING FOR MUCH OF THE AFTERNOON OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF OF
INYO COUNTY WITH ONLY LIGHT AMOUNTS TO THE NORTH. AM GOING TO LEAVE
THE WINTER STORM WARNING UP FOR INYO COUNTY...BUT MENTION LOWER SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS UP NORTH. AS THE LOW CONTINUES TO TRACK EAST MOISTURE
ALSO ALSO SPREAD FURTHER EAST. EXPECTING THE BULK OF THE
PRECIPITATION TO FALL BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 9AM FOR SAN
BERNARDINO...CLARK AND SOUTHERN NYE COUNTIES. DID HOIST A SNOW
ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN NYE AND WESTERN CLARK COUNTIES FOR
ACCUMULATIONS UP TO 2 INCHES. AM CONVINCED THAT SNOW WILL FALL OVER
MOST OF THE LAS VEGAS VALLEY...BUT STILL QUESTIONING THE AMOUNTS.
FOR NOW I HAVE LEFT ACCUMULATIONS UP TO AN INCH IN THE SURROUNDING
FOOTHILLS ABOVE 2500 FEET...BUT A DUSTING COULD BE SEEN OVER MOST
OTHER AREAS. HAVE ALSO ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THE
SPRING MOUNTAINS AND SHEEP RANGE...THINKING THAT SNOW TOTALS WILL
NOT REACH WARNING AMOUNTS. SNOW SHOULD BEGIN TO TAPER OFF MONDAY
WITH SNOW LEVELS SLOWLY RISING. AS THE LOW PASSES DIRECTLY OVER
SOUTHERN NEVADA ITS POSSIBLE THAT SOME HEAVIER SHOWERS MAY DEVELOP
IN THE AFTERNOON AND LOWER THE SNOW LEVELS BACK TOWARD THE VALLEY
FLOORS. THE LOW IS FORECAST TO TRACK EAST WITH PRECIPITATION ENDING
BY LATE MONDAY ACROSS THE REGION WITH DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED
TUESDAY.
.LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...THE LATEST GFS AND ECMWF
SOLUTIONS DEPICT LITTLE CHANGE FROM RECENT RUNS AND CONTINUE TO
DOWNPLAY THE CUTOFF LOW WHICH BEGINS WELL OFF THE SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA COAST WEDNESDAY. IT IS FORECAST TO SLOWLY MAKE ITS WAY
NEAR THE COAST BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON THEN MOVE INLAND ALONG THE
US/MEXICO BORDER THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY. THE MODELS INDICATE VERY
LITTLE MOISTURE BEING PULLED INTO THE LOW AND PACIFIC SATELLITE
IMAGES CONFIRM THE LACK OF AVAILABLE MOISTURE SOUTHWEST OF THE BAJA
PENINSULA. MOISTURE CURRENTLY SOUTH OF HAWAII NEEDS TO BE WATCHED
BUT IT IS FORECAST TO REMAIN SOUTH OF THE LOW AND MOVE ACROSS
SOUTHERN BAJA INTO NORTH CENTRAL MEXICO THURSDAY. A WEAK RIDGE
DEVELOPS OVER THE REGION BEHIND THE LOW SATURDAY AND SUNDAY FOR DRY
CONDITIONS. TEMPERATURES WILL GRADUALLY CLIMB BACK TO NORMAL VALUES
BY THE WEEKEND.
&&
.AVIATION...FOR MCCARRAN...THE STORM MOVING INTO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
WILL BRING CEILINGS LOWERING TO AROUND 5K FEET OR LESS THROUGH THIS
EVENING. A BRIEF BREAK WITH CEILINGS 8-10KT MAY OCCUR BETWEEN 03Z
AND 06Z THEN DROP AND REMAIN LOW THROUGH MUCH OF MONDAY MORNING.
LIGHT SNOW WILL LIKELY DEVELOP DURING A WINDOW BETWEEN 12Z AND 18Z
MONDAY BUT ACCUMULATION IS NOT A CONCERN. THE MAIN IMPACT WILL BE
REDUCED VISIBILITY AND CEILINGS WHICH WILL REQUIRE SPACING FOR IFR
ARRIVALS PROBABLY AFTER 06Z. CLOUD BASES SHOULD REMAIN AT OR BELOW
5KT MUCH OF THE DAY ALTHOUGH SOME SCATTERED DECKS WILL OCCUR AS THE
SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS.
FOR THE REST OF SOUTHERN NEVADA...NORTHWEST ARIZONA...AND SOUTHEAST
CALIFORNIA...NO SIGNIFICANT WINDS EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH
MONDAY. A PACIFIC STORM MOVE FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INTO SOUTHERN
NEVADA AND NORTHWEST ARIZONA TONIGHT AND MONDAY WILL BRING CEILINGS
OF AROUND 5K FEET OR LOWER SPREADING FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST
OVERNIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY WITH GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT BEHIND IT MONDAY
AFTERNOON. MOUNTAIN OBSCURATION WILL OCCUR DURING THE ENTIRE PERIOD
AND AREAS OF SNOW WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY TO 3-5SM WITH LOCALIZED
VSBY POSSIBLY DOWN TO A MILE. THE MAIN IMPACTS FROM THIS SYSTEM
WILL BE SOUTH OF A LINE FROM GOLDFIELD TO CALIENTE
&&
.VEF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NV...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON PST
MONDAY FOR NVZ017-022.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM PST
MONDAY FOR NVZ018-019.
AZ...NONE.
CA...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 AM PST MONDAY FOR CAZ519>522.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM PST MONDAY FOR CAZ523>525.
&&
GORELOW/ADAIR
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGASHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV 1128 AM PST SUN JAN 2 2011 UPDATED FOR CA ZONES 523 TO 525 CAZ519-521-030800- EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES-WHITE MOUNTAINS OF INYO COUNTY- 1128 AM PST SUN JAN 2 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ANOTHER ROUND OF SIGNIFICANT SNOW IS EXPECTED FOR THE MOUNTAINS. A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THE WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM MONDAY. AFTER THE STORM IS OVER...HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT LIKELY TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER REPORTS OF SNOW WILL BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT. CAZ520-522-030800- OWENS VALLEY-DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK- 1128 AM PST SUN JAN 2 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CALIFORNIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SNOW IS EXPECTED FOR THE OWENS VALLEY AND PARTS OF DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK. A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR AREAS ABOVE 3000 FEET THROUGH TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THE WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM MONDAY. AFTER THE STORM IS OVER...HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT LIKELY TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER REPORTS OF SNOW WILL BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT. CAZ523>525-030800- WESTERN MOJAVE DESERT-EASTERN MOJAVE DESERT-MORONGO BASIN- 1128 AM PST SUN JAN 2 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CALIFORNIA. SNOW WILL SPREAD FROM THE WESTERN MOJAVE DESERT INTO THE EASTERN MOJAVE DESERT AND MORONGO BASIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW ABOVE 2000 FEET IS IN EFFECT FOR THESE AREAS BEGINNING AT 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUING THROUGH TONIGHT IS POSSIBLE OVER THE WESTERN MOJAVE DESERT THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THE WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MONDAY. AFTER THE STORM IS OVER...HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT LIKELY TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER REPORTS OF SNOW WILL BE NEEDED TONIGHT. NVZ018-019-030800- SHEEP RANGE-SPRING MOUNTAINS- 1128 AM PST SUN JAN 2 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT ANOTHER ROUND OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE FOR THE MOUNTAINS. A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT BEGINNING AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THE WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT MONDAY NIGHT. AFTER THE STORM IS OVER...HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT LIKELY TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER REPORTS OF SNOW MAY BE NEEDED TONIGHT. AZZ001>003-036-CAZ526-527-NVZ014>017-020>022-030800- NORTHWEST PLATEAU-LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-NORTHWEST DESERTS- LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA-CADIZ BASIN- SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY-UPPER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY- ESMERALDA AND CENTRAL NYE COUNTY-LINCOLN COUNTY- NORTHEAST CLARK COUNTY-WESTERN CLARK AND SOUTHERN NYE COUNTY- LAS VEGAS VALLEY-SOUTHERN CLARK COUNTY- 1128 AM PST SUN JAN 2 2011 /1228 PM MST SUN JAN 2 2011/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST ARIZONA...CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT CHANCES FOR RAIN AND LOW ELEVATION SNOW WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE REGION TONIGHT. WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT LIKELY...BUT LOCAL IMPACTS DUE TO SNOW ARE POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY CHANCES FOR LOW ELEVATION SNOW WILL END LATE MONDAY. AFTER THE STORM IS OVER...HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT LIKELY TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heavy snow, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
An estimated 12 inches of snow fell on Townes Pass (4100') on Highway 190. Several hours later, 3 inches fell on the desert floor at Tecopa (1300').
Rocks and mud were washed onto Badwater Road.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in California, January 2011
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: 271485, 271487.