Low pressure off the central California coast contributed to the formation of thunderstorms in western Nevada on the 20th and 21st.
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 REV wrote it up.
Low pressure off the central California coast contributed to the formation of thunderstorms in western Nevada on the 20th and 21st.
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 Aug 20, 1:46 PM PST, 3 hours 59 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV 246 PM PDT TUE AUG 20 2013 .SYNOPSIS... AN UPPER LEVEL LOW OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST WILL TRACK ACROSS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THIS WILL PROVIDE A THREAT FOR THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS THE REGION WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY. THIS LOW WILL THEN MOVE NORTH ACROSS OREGON LATE THURSDAY AND DECREASE THE CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND STORMS. FROM FRIDAY THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK, DRIER CONDITIONS AND NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED. && .SHORT TERM... AN UPPER LOW OFF THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST IS SLOWLY TRACKING NORTHWARD THIS AFTERNOON. WATER VAPOR SATELLITE IS SHOWING A DRY SLOT CROSSING INTO CALIFORNIA AND WESTERN NEVADA. THIS HAS DELAYED THE ONSET OF CONVECTION THIS AFTERNOON BUT WITH CLEARER CONDITIONS AND SIGNS OF MOISTURE RECOVERY ON THE MAMMOTH LAKES GPS IPW SENSOR, DO EXPECT HEATING TO POP SHOWERS AND STORMS BY LATE AFTERNOON AND INTO EARLY EVENING. THESE STORMS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE STRONG OUTFLOW WINDS AND LOCALIZED AREAS OF HEAVY RAINFALL. ON WEDNESDAY, MOISTURE WILL REMAIN WELL ABOVE NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR WITH COLUMN MOISTURE APPROACHING 1 INCH. THIS IS AROUND 3 STANDARD DEVIATIONS ABOVE NORMAL. THE APPROACHING LOW WILL PRODUCE BETTER FORCING ALOFT TO TAP INTO AMPLE MOISTURE AND WIDESPREAD INSTABILITY (L.I.~ -3, HLTT~34, CAPES APPROACHING 1000J/KG). THIS WILL PROVIDE OUR BEST CHANCES FOR WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND STORMS WHICH MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH HEAVY RAINFALL AND LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING, HAIL, STRONG WIND GUSTS, AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. WINDS ALOFT WILL BE SWIFT SO EXPECTING QUICK STORM MOTIONS, BUT THE MAIN FLASH FLOOD THREAT WILL COME IN THE FORM OF TRAINING STORMS AND POSSIBLE BACK-BUILDING DEVELOPMENT. THE BEST AREA FOR DEVELOPMENT ON WEDNESDAY WILL BE ALONG THE SIERRA AND WESTERN NEVADA NORTH OF HIGHWAY 50. THERE IS GOOD POTENTIAL FOR THESE SHOWERS AND STORMS TO CONTINUE OVERNIGHT AND INTO THURSDAY MORNING AS THE CORE OF THE LOW PUSHES ACROSS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PROVIDING DIVERGENCE ALOFT AND JET SUPPORT ACROSS NE CA AND NW NEVADA. ON THURSDAY, THE LOW PUSHES ACROSS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND STORMS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL MAINLY ACROSS FAR NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND NORTHWEST NEVADA THURSDAY AFTERNOON. DRIER AIR AND BREEZY CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL ACROSS THESE AREAS AS THE LOW PUSHES INTO SOUTHERN OREGON BY THURSDAY EVENING. FUENTES .LONG TERM...FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... DRIER SOUTHWEST FLOW RETURNS FRIDAY AS A TROUGH SETS UP OFF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST WITH A RIDGE OVER DESERT SOUTHWEST AND SOUTHERN PLAINS. WITH STRONG RIDGING REMAINING WELL EAST OF THE REGION, HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL STAY WITHIN A FEW DEGREES OF AVERAGE THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. WINDS SHOULD KICK UP IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING TO RATHER TYPICAL SUMMER VALUES WITH PEAK GUSTS 25-30 MPH. AS FAR AS THE POTENTIAL FOR MOISTURE RETURN EARLY NEXT WEEK, MOST MODELS/ENSEMBLES NOW IMPLY THAT MOISTURE WOULD BE KEPT SOUTH AND EAST OF THE SIERRA AND WESTERN NEVADA AS DRY SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT PREVAILS. THEREFORE, THE PROBABILITY FOR PRECIPITATION/THUNDERSTORMS REMAINS VERY LOW THROUGH THE LONG TERM FORECAST. SNYDER && .AVIATION... AN UPPER LOW WILL PROVIDE A THREAT FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ALL TERMINALS THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT. SHOWERS AND STORMS THIS AFTERNOON WILL DEVELOP AFTER 22Z ACROSS SIERRA TERMINALS, THEN DIMINISH AFTER SUNSET. KRNO/KCXP COULD SEE TSRA AFT 00Z WITH VCSH THRU ABOUT 06Z. WEDNESDAY WILL SEE THE BEST POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD TSRA ACROSS THE SIERRA AND WESTERN NEVADA WITH STORMS POSSIBLY DEVELOPING BY LATE WED MORNING IN THE SIERRA. THE STRONGER STORMS ON WED WILL PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN, HAIL, OUTFLOW WINDS TO 45 KTS, PERIODS OF MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS, AND HIGHER TERRAIN OBSCURATION. FUENTES && .REV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NV...NONE. CA...NONE. && FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT... HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO (ALL LOWER CASE)
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV 255 PM PDT TUE AUG 20 2013 CAZ070>073-NVZ001>005-211300- SURPRISE VALLEY CALIFORNIA-LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS- EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES-GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-MONO- MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES-GREATER RENO-CARSON CITY- MINDEN AREA-WESTERN NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE INCLUDING PYRAMID LAKE- NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY- 255 PM PDT TUE AUG 20 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE EASTERN SIERRA... NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND WESTERN NEVADA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS IN THE SIERRA... WESTERN NEVADA...AND NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA. STRONGER STORMS MAY PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN...SMALL HAIL AND WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH. A FEW STORMS MAY LAST INTO THE LATE EVENING ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHERN SIERRA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE ON WEDNESDAY. ABUNDANT MOISTURE AND SIGNIFICANT INSTABILITY WILL INCREASE THE CHANCES FOR SEVERE STORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND FLASH FLOODING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE. REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER ARE ALSO WELCOME BY POSTING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO FACEBOOK PAGE...OR ON TWITTER USING...AT NWSRENO. FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT... HTTP://FORECAST.WEATHER.GOV/HAZARDS/REV (ALL LOWER CASE)
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV 539 PM PDT TUE AUG 20 2013 NVZ003-004-210115- GREATER RENO-CARSON CITY-MINDEN AREA-WESTERN NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE INCLUDING PYRAMID LAKE- 539 PM PDT TUE AUG 20 2013 AT 535 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF STAGECOACH...OR 10 MILES EAST OF VIRGINIA CITY...AND MOVING VERY LITTLE. FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING...TORRENTIAL RAIN WITH AMOUNTS NEAR TWO INCHES PER HOUR...SMALL PEA SIZE HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS TO 40 MPH...WILL OCCUR WITH THIS STORM. HEAVY RAIN WITH VERY POOR VISIBILITY ALONG HIGHWAY 50 WILL BE THE BIGGEST IMPACT. * LOCATIONS AFFECTED THROUGH 615 PM PDT INCLUDE...HIGHWAY 50 BETWEEN DAYTON AND SILVER SPRINGS. DRIVERS SHOULD EXPECT STRONG GUSTY CROSS WINDS...WITH RAPID VISIBILITY REDUCTIONS. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL RESULT IN PONDING OF WATER. SLOW DOWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING HEAVY RAIN AND TURN ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS. && LAT...LON 3939 11952 3943 11941 3924 11933 3923 11950 TIME...MOT...LOC 0037Z 170DEG 6KT 3932 11944 HOHMANN
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
555 PM PDT TUE AUG 20 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0530 PM HAIL 4 W RENO 39.54N 119.89W
08/20/2013 E0.50 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER
TRAINED SPOTTER ON WEST MCCARRAN BLVD AT INTERSTATE 80
REPORTED HEAVY RAIN AND PEA TO NICKEL SIZE HAIL. URBAN
FLOODING.
0535 PM HAIL 5 NE RENO 39.55N 119.70W
08/20/2013 E0.25 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER
TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED HEAVY RAIN MIXED WITH SMALL HAIL
ON INTERSTATE 80 BETWEEN WEST MCCARRAN BLVD AND VIRGINIA
STREET.
0547 PM LIGHTNING 5 SSE SILVER SPRINGS 39.33N 119.21W
08/20/2013 LYON NV TRAINED SPOTTER
THUNDERSTORM OVERHEAD WITH CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING, NO
RAIN AND LIGHT WINDS.
&&
JKIELHORSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV 607 PM PDT TUE AUG 20 2013 NVZ003-210145- GREATER RENO-CARSON CITY-MINDEN AREA- 607 PM PDT TUE AUG 20 2013 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING ACROSS NORTH VALLEYS... AT 601 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR SPARKS...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH. TORRENTIAL RAIN...SMALL HAIL...AND GUSTY WINDS TO 40 MPH...WILL OCCUR WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS AFFECTED THROUGH 645 PM PDT INCLUDE...RENO...SPANISH SPRINGS...SPARKS...SUN VALLEY...NWS RENO AND GOLDEN VALLEY. * THIS STORM WILL AFFECT INTERSTATE 80 IN NEVADA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 12 AND 16 AND PYRAMID HIGHWAY. DRIVERS SHOULD EXPECT STRONG GUSTY CROSS WINDS...WITH RAPID VISIBILITY REDUCTIONS. HEAVY RAINFALL IS THE PRIMARY IMPACT AND WILL RESULT IN PONDING OF WATER. SLOW DOWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING HEAVY RAIN AND TURN ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS. LOCALIZED STREET FLOODING IS POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY WHERE DRAINAGE IS POOR. && LAT...LON 3961 11987 3965 11967 3953 11969 3953 11984 TIME...MOT...LOC 0105Z 235DEG 9KT 3957 11977 HOHMANN
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
610 PM PDT TUE AUG 20 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0355 PM HAIL 2 E SOUTH LAKE TAHOE 38.94N 119.95W
08/20/2013 E0.88 INCH EL DORADO CA TRAINED SPOTTER
TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED HEAVY RAIN AND ESTIMATED NICKEL
SIZE HAIL IN SOUTH LAKE TAHOE NEAR SKI RUN AND PIONEER
STREET.
0605 PM HEAVY RAIN 4 W RENO 39.54N 119.89W
08/20/2013 E0.00 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER
HEAVY RAIN, PONDING AND URBAN FLOODING REPORTED ON N
MCCARRAN BLVD WEST OF SUTRO ST.
&&
JKIELHORSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
634 PM PDT TUE AUG 20 2013
NVZ004-210230-
WESTERN NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE INCLUDING PYRAMID LAKE-
634 PM PDT TUE AUG 20 2013
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW MOVING THROUGH CHURCHILL COUNTY...
AT 634 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING
A LARGE THUNDERSTORM OUTFLOW ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES
EAST OF DERBY DAM TO 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LAHONTAN RESERVOIR...AND
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.
STRONG GUSTY WINDS TO 50 MPH...WILL OCCUR WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM
OUTFLOW. IN ADDITION...A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP WHICH WILL
BRING HEAVY RAIN...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF
NICKELS.
* LOCATIONS AFFECTED THROUGH 730 PM PDT INCLUDE...HAZEN...LAHONTAN
RESERVOIR...JUNCTION US 50 AND NV 117 (SHECKLER CUTOFF) AND
BATTLEGROUND POINT.
* THIS STORM WILL AFFECT INTERSTATE 80 IN NEVADA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS
48 AND 73.
THE OUTFLOW AND DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT TRAVELERS ON
INTERSTATE 80...HIGHWAY 50...AND HIGHWAY 95 BETWEEN FALLON AND
LOVELOCK. DRIVERS SHOULD EXPECT STRONG GUSTY CROSS WINDS...WITH
RAPID VISIBILITY REDUCTIONS POSSIBLE IN BLOWING DUST. HEAVY RAINFALL
WILL RESULT IN PONDING OF WATER. SLOW DOWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING HEAVY
RAIN AND TURN ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS.
&&
LAT...LON 3993 11896 3973 11860 3939 11898 3950 11916
3967 11928
TIME...MOT...LOC 0126Z 227DEG 14KT 3961 11934 3940 11901
SNYDERPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
643 PM PDT TUE AUG 20 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0635 PM HAIL 7 NE SPANISH SPRINGS 39.75N 119.63W
08/20/2013 E0.25 INCH WASHOE NV TRAINED SPOTTER
SMALL HAIL MIXED WITH HEAVY RAIN. 0.09 INCHES RAINFALL IN
10 MINUTES REPORTED IN PALOMINO VALLEY.
&&
JKIELHORThe Reno radar (KRGX), 145 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:45 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Measured at Walker Lake RAWS. Time of gust between 1739PST and 1759PST.
A 3-inch diameter apple tree and 30 feet of fence was blown over due to thunderstorm outflow.
Measured at Juniper Springs RAWS station.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, August 2013
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: 474164, 474161, 474163.