A strong storm system brought heavy snow to portions of northern and central Nevada. Some lower elevations sites received over 1 foot of snow.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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.
A strong storm system brought heavy snow to portions of northern and central Nevada. Some lower elevations sites received over 1 foot of snow.
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 Mar 17, 2:56 AM PST, 4 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKO NV 356 AM PDT SAT MAR 17 2012 .SYNOPSIS...A STRONG STORM WILL BRING SIGNIFICANT SNOW AND GUSTY WINDS TO THE GREAT BASIN TODAY AND TONIGHT. AS THIS STORM WINDS DOWN...COLD TEMPERATURES AND SNOW SHOWERS WILL PERSIST BEHIND THE SYSTEM THROUGH MONDAY. DRIER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED NEXT WEEK AS A WARMING TREND BEGINS. && .SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH MONDAY. IR SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS A POWERFUL H7 LOW CYCLONICALLY SPINNING OVER OREGON. THE GFS MODEL ACCURATELY PREDICTS THIS FEATURE POSITIONING...BY LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE. SOUTH OF THIS LOW FEATURE IS A 200 MILE WIDE AREA OF CLEAR AIR...AND COLLAPSING. THERE IS A 300 MILE WIDE AREA OF CUMULUS OFF THE COAST INDICATING THE EAST SIDE OF A VERY STRONG JET FLOW. RADAR SHOWS A BROADENING AREA OF RAIN SHOWERS MOVING NORTH THROUGH LANDER AND EUREKA COUNTIES WHILE THE SIERRAS ARE GETTING SLAMMED BY A STRONG INFLOW OF MOISTURE. TEMPERATURES ARE NEARING THE FREEZING MARK ACROSS SOUTHEAST OREGON. WINDS ARE GUSTING TO NEAR ADVISORY CRITERIA AT KELY. THE SHORT TERM MODELS ARE IN EXCELLENT AGREEMENT. ALL ADVISORIES AND WARNINGS WILL BE CARRIED OVER TO THE NEXT FORECAST PACKAGE UNALTERED. TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT. THE MEAN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO DIG SOUTH THIS MORNING DUE TO A 165KT JET FLOW OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE LOW FEATURE. CONTINUED DIGGING WILL SERVE TO STRETCH THE COLD FRONT TO IMPACT NEVADA TODAY...AND SLOW ITS EASTERLY PROGRESSION. THE GFS MODEL IS DELINEATING STRONG FRONTOGENESIS FROM GABBS IN NORTHERN NYE COUNTY TO OWYHEE IN NORTHERN ELKO COUNTY AND IT APPEARS THE ACTION IS GETTING READY TO START. THE COLD FRONT IS JUST ENTERING THE STATE FROM THE NORTHWEST AND COLD AIR SHOULD BE RUSHING INTO HUMBOLDT COUNTY OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. THE H3 JET FLOW IS SPLITTING AND GFS SHOWS A PAIR OF 110KT JETS OVER THE LKN CWFA BETWEEN NOW AND 12Z AT THAT LEVEL. THESE JETS WILL BE MERGING OVER THE CWFA THIS AFTERNOON AND CONVECTION COULD BE EXPLOSIVE. STRONG CONVERGENCE IS NOTED AT H7. 28 UNITS OF H7 CONVERGENCE IS THROWN OUT BY THE GFS AT SAT 18Z STRETCHING FROM TONOPAH IN NORTHERN NYE COUNTY TO THE RUBY MOUNTAINS. COULD GET SOME HEAVY SNOW BURSTS DURING THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY FROM THE RUBY MOUNTAINS EAST TODAY AND SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 50. STILL SOME DECENT LIFT AT 06Z SUNDAY OVER THE GREAT BASIN PARK AREA IN WHITE PINE COUNTY. THE LATEST RUN OF THE NAM MODEL IS SHOWING THE ACTIVE SNOW BAND REGION ACTUALLY BACKING UP FROM SAT 18Z TO SUN 03Z. SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY. THE TROUGH AXIS WILL BE SWINGING NORTH THROUGH THE CWFA SUNDAY. A COUPLE MORE IMPULSES INSIDE THE TROUGH WILL BRING CONVECTIVE SNOW SHOWERS TO MOST OF THE AREA. SEVERAL MORE INCHES OF SNOW MAY FALL AS A COLD AIR MASS GRIPS THE REGION. .LONG TERM...MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH NEXT FRIDAY. LARGE COLD STORM SYSTEM FINALLY EXITS NEVADA MONDAY NIGHT...PAVING THE WAY FOR IMPROVING WEATHER FOR THE GREAT BASIN NEXT WEEK. TUESDAY...STRONG WARM AIR ADVECTION PUSHES COLD AIR OUT OF NEVADA. MILDER PACIFIC AIR OVERRUNNING RETREATING COLD AIR AT THE SURFACE WILL PRODUCE THICK CLOUD COVER AND SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS ACROSS NORTHERN NEVADA. MINOR ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHER TERRAIN. TEMPERATURES RECOVER INTO THE 40S TUESDAY AFTERNOON...HELD BACK BY CLOUDS AND MELTING SNOWPACK. WEDNESDAY...RIDGE AXIS CROSSES NEVADA IN THE MORNING...ALLOWING SW FLOW TO RESUME IN THE AFTERNOON. MUCH WARMER AS THIS OCCURS WITH MOST OF THE REMAINING SNOW-COVER MELTING AWAY. THE RETURN OF MARCH SUNSHINE WARMS VALLEYS BACK TO THE 50S. THURSDAY...FURTHER WARMING COURTESY OF STRONGER SW FLOW. AN INCREASE IN THICKNESSES AND AFTERNOON SW BREEZES ALLOW LOWER 60S TO RETURN. FRIDAY/SATURDAY...CONTINUED MILD WITH SW FLOW KEEPING HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 50S AND LOWER 60S. BT && .AVIATION...WINTER STORM WILL PRODUCE POOR FLYING CONDITIONS ACROSS NEVADA THROUGH SUNDAY. +SN WILL AFFECT ALL TAF SITES WITH IFR/LIFR CIGS/VIS. ALL SITES ARE EXPECTED TO REACH CATEGORY A LANDING MINIMUMS AT TIMES. EXPECT THE LOWEST CIGS/VIS IN +SN 09-15Z AT KWMC...15-20Z AT KEKO...18-23Z AT KTPH...AND 00-06Z SUN AT KELY. ACCUMULATING SNOW MAY REQUIRE PLOWING OPERATIONS AT ALL RUNWAYS...WITH THE LEAST AMOUNTS AT KWMC. ADDITIONAL -SN/SHSN WILL PRODUCE OCCASIONAL IFR AT ALL SITES THROUGH SUNDAY. BT && .LKN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 5 AM TO 11 PM PDT SATURDAY BELOW 5500 FEET FOR NORTHERN ELKO COUNTY...NORTHERN LANDER COUNTY AND NORTHERN EUREKA COUNTY...NORTHERN NYE COUNTY...SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ELKO COUNTY. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 5 AM TO 11 PM PDT SATURDAY ABOVE 5500 FEET FOR NORTHERN ELKO COUNTY...NORTHERN LANDER COUNTY AND NORTHERN EUREKA COUNTY...NORTHERN NYE COUNTY...SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ELKO COUNTY. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 11 AM PDT SATURDAY FOR HUMBOLDT COUNTY. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 5 PM SATURDAY TO 11 AM PDT SUNDAY FOR EXTREME EASTERN ELKO COUNTY. HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 5 AM TO 5 PM PDT SATURDAY FOR WHITE PINE COUNTY. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 11 AM SATURDAY TO 11 AM PDT SUNDAY FOR WHITE PINE COUNTY. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 5 AM TO 11 PM PDT SATURDAY FOR RUBY MOUNTAINS/EAST HUMBOLDT RANGE...SOUTHERN LANDER COUNTY AND SOUTHERN EUREKA COUNTY. && 92/99/99
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKO NV 345 PM PDT FRI MAR 16 2012 NVZ030-172245- HUMBOLDT COUNTY- 345 PM PDT FRI MAR 16 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. A STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION FROM THE PACIFIC. RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT ACROSS THE AREA. IT MAY COME DOWN HEAVILY FOR A BRIEF TIME TOWARD DAWN. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON. HOWEVER...A FEW INCHES MAY ACCUMULATE BEFORE IT TAPERS OFF. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO REPORT WEATHER PHENOMENA ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE. NVZ013-031-032-034-036-037-172245- NORTHERN NYE COUNTY-NORTHERN ELKO COUNTY- SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL ELKO COUNTY- RUBY MOUNTAINS/EAST HUMBOLDT RANGE- NORTHERN LANDER COUNTY AND NORTHERN EUREKA COUNTY- SOUTHERN LANDER COUNTY AND SOUTHERN EUREKA COUNTY- 345 PM PDT FRI MAR 16 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NEVADA...NORTHEAST NEVADA AND SOUTH CENTRAL NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. NO SIGNIFICANT WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION ON SATURDAY. RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW AND COME DOWN HEAVILY FOR A TIME. SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED IN THE HIGHER VALLEYS AND MOUNTAINS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT BELOW 5500 FEET...WITH WINTER STORM WARNINGS ABOVE 5500 FEET. WINDS WILL ALSO BE STRONG AND GUSTY ON SATURDAY ACROSS NYE COUNTY...WITH GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH POSSIBLE BEFORE THE RAIN AND SNOW BEGIN. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO REPORT WEATHER PHENOMENA ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE. NVZ035-172245- WHITE PINE COUNTY- 345 PM PDT FRI MAR 16 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. NO SIGNIFICANT WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION ON SATURDAY AND PERSIST INTO SUNDAY. AHEAD OF THE STORM...STRONG AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WINDS ARE EXPECTED WITH GUSTS POSSIBLY REACHING 60 MPH. A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT. LATE SATURDAY...THE WINDS WILL START TO DIMINISH BUT SNOW WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA. SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE HIGHER VALLEYS AND MOUNTAINS. A WINTER STORM WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT. THE SNOW WILL TAPER OFF ON SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO REPORT WEATHER PHENOMENA ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE. NVZ033-172245- EXTREME EASTERN ELKO COUNTY- 345 PM PDT FRI MAR 16 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. NO SIGNIFICANT WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. A STRONG STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION ON SATURDAY AND PERSIST INTO SUNDAY. RAIN WILL MOVE IN LATER SATURDAY BEFORE CHANGING TO SNOW SATURDAY EVENING. A FEW INCHES OF ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED BEFORE THE SNOW TAPERS OFF ON SUNDAY. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ASKED TO REPORT WEATHER PHENOMENA ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE. RCM
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
A COOP observer in Orovada reported 9 inches of snow, and in Winnemucca an observer reported 8 inches of snow. In the mountains several SNOTEL's reported between 1 and 2 feet of snow.
SNOTEL sites reported between 8 and 20 inches of snow.
A spotter in Austin reported 12 inches of snow, and 9 inches was reported in Eureka.
Many locations received between 8 and 16 inches of snow with Lamoille coming in with 20 inches. Most of the snowfall occurred west of the Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt range.
Most SNOTEL sites reported around 1 foot of snow.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, March 2012
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: 362184, 362189, 362220, 362215, 362216.