Low pressure moved into northern California on the 11th and 12th, aiding in the development of strong to severe thunderstorms. 50 inches of rain in 20 to 30 minutes.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 moved into northern California on the 11th and 12th, aiding in the development of strong to severe thunderstorms. Some storms dropped very heavy rain (for western NV) with between 0.75 and 1.50 inches of rain in 20 to 30 minutes. The Nevada Department of Emergency Management estimated 2.43M in total damage in Douglas County from several flash flooding events in July and August (through the 11th), with damages split between public infrastructure (around 927K) and private residences (1.5M).
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 11, 12:35 PM PST, 25 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
135 PM PDT MON AUG 11 2014
.SYNOPSIS...
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT AND TUESDAY AS LOW
PRESSURE OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST MOVES THROUGH NORTHWEST NEVADA.
A SECOND LOW WILL MOVE INTO OREGON TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY
WILL BRING DRIER CONDITIONS AND GUSTY WINDS. DRY AND WARM
CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
LOW PRESSURE OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST WILL GET KICKED INLAND
TONIGHT AND ABSORBED BY A LARGER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM APPROACHING
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN MOVING
TO THE NORTH AT 25-30 MPH SO FAR TODAY, WITH VERY LITTLE RAINFALL
REACHING THE GROUND. THE STRONGER STORMS THE REST OF THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING MAY PRODUCE GUSTY OUTFLOWS TO 60 MPH AND
HAIL.
FOR TONIGHT...THUNDERSTORM CHANCES DO NOT LOOK QUITE AS GOOD WITH
MODELS SHOWING MID/UPPER LEVEL CAPE AND INSTABILITY WITH BEST
FORCING OVER INTERIOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. HOWEVER ISOLATED TO
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD REMAIN NORTH OF PORTOLA
TO PYRAMID LAKE TO FALLON. STORMS LATE TONIGHT WILL MOVE QUICKLY,
PRODUCE BRIEF PERIODS OF RAIN WITH DRY LIGHTNING STRIKES, THE
THREAT FOR HAIL AND STRONG OUTFLOWS WILL END BY 9 PM THIS EVENING.
AS THE LOW MOVES OVER NORTHWEST NEVADA TUESDAY, THE BEST CHANCE OF
STORMS WILL BE DOWNWIND OF LASSEN PEAK AND EAST OF HIGHWAY 95 IN
PERSHING AND CHURCHILL COUNTIES. AGAIN STORMS WILL MOVE QUICKLY
PRODUCING LITTLE RAINFALL AND DRY STRIKES.
THE SECOND LARGER LOW WILL MOVE INTO THE OREGON COAST LATE TUESDAY
AND HELP INCREASE WINDS AND LOWER HUMIDITY TUESDAY EVENING AND
TUESDAY NIGHT. GUSTS WILL INCREASE TO AS HIGH AS 30-40 MPH IN THE
HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE TAHOE BASIN, ACROSS NORTHEAST
CALIFORNIA/NORTHWEST NEVADA AND THE FOOTHILLS ALONG HIGHWAY 395
NORTH OF HIGHWAY 50 BY EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. RIDGE GUSTS COULD
BE AS STRONG AT 60-70 MPH. THIS WILL LEAD TO CHOPPY TO ROUGH
CONDITIONS ON AREA LAKES, ESPECIALLY LAKE TAHOE, SO BOATERS WILL
WANT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE FORECAST AND CHECK CONDITIONS BEFORE
HEADING OUT. BRONG
.LONG TERM...
FEW CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE ONGOING FORECAST AS DETERMINISTIC
MODELS REMAIN IN GOOD LARGE SCALE AGREEMENT. UPPER LEVEL LOW MOVING
THROUGH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY WILL BRING COOLER
TEMPERATURES AND LOCALLY BREEZY WINDS OF 25 TO 30 MPH. HIGH
TEMPERATURES WILL DROP TO ABOUT 5 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL, WHILE LOWS
WILL BE NEAR SEASONAL NORMS. MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW WILL
REMAIN WELL TO THE NORTH, ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND INTO
IDAHO, WHILE NORTHERN CA/NV WILL BE UNDER DRY WESTERLY FLOW.
A GRADUAL WARM UP IS ON TRACK INTO THE WEEKEND WITH TEMPERATURES
RETURNING TO NEAR NORMAL. FORECAST MODELS ARE HINTING AT ANOTHER
TROUGH DEVELOPING ALONG THE WEST COAST SUNDAY INTO MONDAY, BUT THE
FLOW REMAINS OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST, WHICH WILL KEEP THE AREA DRY. DJ
&&
.AVIATION...
THUNDERSTORMS HAVE ALREADY INITIATED EARLY THIS AFTERNOON WITH
STORMS MOVING FROM THE SOUTH TOWARD THE NORTH. ALL AREA TERMINALS
HAVE A 20-30 PERCENT CHANCE OF BEING IMPACTED BY THUNDERSTORMS
THROUGH ABOUT 02Z, WITH BEST CHANCES FOR STORMS AFTER 02Z MOVING
NORTH OF A KTRK-KCXP-KNFL LINE. STORMS TODAY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
BRING GUSTY AND ERRATIC OUTFLOW WINDS OF 40-50 KTS ALONG WITH HAIL
UP TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER. HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE UNDER STORM
CORES, WHICH WILL DRASTICALLY REDUCE CIGS/VIS. STORMS WILL BE
MOVING, SO PONDING OF WATER ON RUNWAYS IS NOT ANTICIPATED.
THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL LINGER NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80 OVERNIGHT
WITH STORMS MAINLY NORTH AND EAST OF A KSVE-KNFL LINE ON TUESDAY.
CONDITIONS WILL BE DRY WITH CLEARING SKIES WEDNESDAY INTO THE
WEEKEND. DJ
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
THE UPPER LOW RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN IS FORECAST
TO MOVE INLAND TONIGHT AND EXIT THE AREA ON TUESDAY WITH ONE MORE
PERIOD OF ACTIVE WEATHER ACROSS THE REGION. FOR TODAY, THE MAIN
FORCING WILL BE FROM DAYTIME HEATING ALONG THE TERRAIN OF THE
EASTERN SIERRA. STORMS WILL BE STRONGER TODAY WITH BRIEF HEAVY RAIN,
WIND GUSTS TO UP TO 60 MPH AND LARGE HAIL TO ONE INCH IN DIAMETER
POSSIBLE.
UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL MOVE INLAND TONIGHT BRINGING A POTENT UPPER
LEVEL PV MAX THROUGH THE REGION (06Z-18Z) WITH STORM BEARING WINDS
INCREASING TO 35KT. STORMS WILL BE ELEVATED TONIGHT AND MOVING
QUICKLY, SO LITTLE IN THE WAY OF RAINFALL WILL OCCUR LATE TONIGHT
FOR AREAS NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80. RECENT RAINFALL ALONG THE SIERRA
FRONT AND BASIN AND RANGE WILL LIMIT THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE FIRE
GROWTH FOR NOW, ALTHOUGH SOME NEW FIRE STARTS WILL BE POSSIBLE.
THE NEXT CONCERN WILL BE LATE TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY AS
ANOTHER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ENTERS THE REGION. FIRE OFFICIALS
SHOULD BE AWARE OF HOLD OVERS AS WE TRANSITION TO WINDY AND DRY
CONDITIONS. A DRY SLOT WILL PUSH INTO THE EASTERN SIERRA AND WESTERN
NEVADA LATE TUESDAY NIGHT ALONG WITH INCREASING WEST TO SOUTHWEST
FLOW. THE DRY AIR WILL LIMIT OVERNIGHT HUMIDITY RECOVERIES FOR
NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND NORTHWEST NEVADA, INCLUDING THE LAKE TAHOE
BASIN, ESPECIALLY FOR THE MID SLOPES AND RIDGES WHICH WILL RESULT
IN THE POTENTIAL FOR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. A FIRE
WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR ZONES 270, 271, 272,
278 AND 458. HOHMANN/WEISHAHN
&&
.REV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NV...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON NVZ458.
CA...FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON CAZ270>272-278.
&&
FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO (ALL LOWER CASE)SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
1241 PM PDT MON AUG 11 2014
CAZ072-NVZ002-112015-
GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-
1241 PM PDT MON AUG 11 2014
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF LAKE TAHOE...
AT 1236 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE
TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR BLISS STATE PARK...OR 9 MILES
WEST OF SOUTH LAKE TAHOE...AND MOVING NORTH AT 20 MPH.
FREQUENT DEADLY LIGHTNING...MODERATE RAIN...SMALL PEA SIZE HAIL...AND
STRONG GUSTY WINDS TO 50 MPH...WILL OCCUR WITH THIS STORM.
* LOCATIONS AFFECTED THROUGH 115 PM PDT INCLUDE...CRYSTAL BAY...
INCLINE VILLAGE...ALPINE MEADOWS...CARNELIAN BAY...DOLLAR POINT AND
HOMEWOOD.
IF ON OR NEAR A LAKE...GET OUT OF THE WATER AND MOVE INDOORS OR
INSIDE A VEHICLE NOW. DON'T BE CAUGHT ON THE WATER IN A THUNDERSTORM.
STRONG WIND GUSTS AND LIGHTNING POSE AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO BOATERS.
GUSTY WINDS WILL CAUSE A RAPID INCREASE IN WAVE HEIGHTS WHICH MAY
CAPSIZE SMALL BOATS.
&&
LAT...LON 3924 12027 3926 11996 3890 12002 3889 12017
3891 12019 3916 12027
TIME...MOT...LOC 1940Z 175DEG 19KT 3898 12014
DJSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV 112 PM PDT MON AUG 11 2014 CAZ072-NVZ002-003-112045- GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-GREATER RENO-CARSON CITY-MINDEN AREA- 112 PM PDT MON AUG 11 2014 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR GARDNERVILLE... AT 110 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES NORTHWEST OF CARTER SPRINGS FIRE BURN AREA...OR 5 MILES SOUTH OF GARDNERVILLE...AND MOVING NORTH AT 25 MPH. OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING...MODERATE RAIN...SMALL PEA SIZE HAIL...AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS TO 50 MPH...WILL OCCUR WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS AFFECTED THROUGH 145 PM PDT INCLUDE...GARDNERVILLE... GARDNERVILLE RANCH...GENOA...INDIAN HILLS...JOHNSON LANE AND CARSON CITY. DURING A THUNDERSTORM...SEEK SHELTER INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. HIKERS AND CAMPERS SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IN A VEHICLE IF POSSIBLE. && LAT...LON 3916 11989 3919 11961 3879 11957 3877 11980 TIME...MOT...LOC 2011Z 173DEG 23KT 3887 11970 DJ
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV 114 PM PDT MON AUG 11 2014 CAZ071-112115- LASSEN-EASTERN PLUMAS-EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES- 114 PM PDT MON AUG 11 2014 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR STAMPEDE RESERVOIR... AT 111 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR STAMPEDE RESERVOIR...AND MOVING NORTH AT 20 MPH. OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING...MODERATE RAIN...SMALL HAIL...AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS TO 50 MPH...WILL OCCUR WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS AFFECTED THROUGH 215 PM PDT INCLUDE...DOG VALLEY... LOYALTON...STAMPEDE RESERVOIR...US 395 AT SIERRA-LASSEN CO LINE...CA 49 AT SIERRA-PLUMAS CO LINE. BOATERS...HIKERS AND CAMPERS SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IN A VEHICLE IF POSSIBLE. TENTS AND TREES ARE UNSAFE SHELTERS DURING THUNDERSTORMS. STAY AWAY FROM CREEKS AND STREAMS AS WATER LEVELS MAY RISE RAPIDLY NEAR THUNDERSTORMS. && LAT...LON 3976 12029 3976 12001 3944 12001 3945 12024 TIME...MOT...LOC 2012Z 181DEG 19KT 3947 12012
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV 143 PM PDT MON AUG 11 2014 NVZ002-003-112145- GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-GREATER RENO-CARSON CITY-MINDEN AREA- 143 PM PDT MON AUG 11 2014 ...THUNDERSTORM OVER JOHNSON LANE HEADING TOWARD CARSON CITY... AT 141 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS WERE TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 4 MILES NORTHEAST OF GARDNERVILLE...AND MOVING NORTH AT 20 MPH. OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS TO 50 MPH...WILL OCCUR WITH THIS STORM. SPOTTERS IN GARDNERVILLE REPORTED HEAVY RAIN AND DIME SIZE HAIL WITH THIS STORM. * LOCATIONS AFFECTED THROUGH 245 PM PDT INCLUDE...GOLD HILL... DAYTON...GARDNERVILLE...INDIAN HILLS...JOHNSON LANE AND CARSON CITY. HEAVY RAINFALL IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. EXPECT PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS. IN AREAS OF STEEP TERRAIN...MINOR ROCK SLIDES ARE POSSIBLE. DRIVERS SHOULD SLOW DOWN AND TURN ON THEIR HEADLIGHTS IF ENCOUNTERING HEAVY RAINS. && LAT...LON 3943 11985 3942 11950 3891 11957 3891 11980 TIME...MOT...LOC 2041Z 181DEG 17KT 3901 11968 BRONG
The Reno radar (KRGX), 70 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:58 UTC.
4 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
This wind gust was measured at a Citizen Weather Observer Program (CWOP) site.
The hail was measured by a ranger at Washoe Lake State Park and relayed by a spotter.
Small tree branches were reported down near New Washoe City.
The hail occurred at McQueen High School.
Up to a foot of water over low spots in Johnson Lane. Water reported in two homes.
Dime to nickel-sized hail was reported in Gerlach.
Wind gusts between 60 and 65 mph were recorded at the Cherry Valley RAWS. The time of the wind gusts were estimated based on radar.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, August 2014
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: 541641, 541643, 541644, 541645, 562236, 541647, 541649, 541650.