A strong cold front brought high winds to much of the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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 strong cold front brought high winds to much of the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin.
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 May 10, 1:27 PM PST, 2 hours 43 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
227 PM PDT SAT MAY 10 2014
.SYNOPSIS...STRONG WESTERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE THIS EVENING ACROSS
PORTIONS OF THE MOJAVE DESERT WHILE VERY STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS
DEVELOP IN THE SOUTHERN GREAT BASIN BEHIND A POTENT COLD FRONT.
IT WILL REMAIN WINDY SUNDAY ALONG WITH MUCH COOLER TEMPERATURES.
ISOLATED SHOWERS WITH THE FRONT WILL BE LIMITED TO LINCOLN AND
NORTHERN MOHAVE COUNTIES TONIGHT AND MONDAY. DRY CONDITIONS AND THE
WARMEST TEMPERATURES OF THE YEAR CAN BE EXPECTED LATER IN THE WEEK
AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE WEST.
&&
.DISCUSSION...SUNNY SKIES FOR THE MOST PART THIS AFTERNOON...
ALTHOUGH STARTING TO SEE MORE STANDING LENTICULAR CLOUDS DEVELOP
OVER NORTHERN INYO AND ESMERALDA COUNTIES. COLD FRONT DRAPED ACROSS
CENTRAL NEVADA THIS AFTERNOON WITH SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS OCCURRING
FROM NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA/WESTERN NEVADA EAST INTO NORTHEAST
NEVADA.
SURFACE PRESSURE FALLS IN SOUTHEAST NEVADA AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT
LEADING TO AN INCREASING THE PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN LAS VEGAS AND
LOS ANGELS AS WELL AS VEGAS AND RENO. MAIN CONCERN THIS EVENING
CENTERS AROUND THE POTENTIAL FOR A 3-4 HOUR PERIOD OF VERY STRONG
NORTHWEST WINDS JUST BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. NAM SUGGESTS THE RNO-LAS
GRADIENT PEAKING AROUND 19 MB...TPH-LAS 13 MB AND DRA-LAS 5 MB.
REFERENCING A LOCAL STUDY WHICH LOOKED AT PRESSURE AND THERMAL
GRADIENTS SUGGESTS PEAK WIND GUSTS IN LAS VEGAS POTENTIALLY REACHING
55 TO 60 MPH. THEREFORE...MADE NO CHANGE TO THE HIGH WIND WARNING.
AS THE SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT SLOWLY RELAXES LATE TONIGHT THROUGH
SUNDAY WE LIKELY WILL NEED TO CONSIDER DOWNGRADING THE HIGH WIND
WARNING TO A WIND ADVISORY.
NORTH BREEZES WILL CONTINUE AT LEAST DOWN THE COLORADO RIVER VALLEY
ON MONDAY AND POSSIBLY INTO TUESDAY.
STRONG RIDGE BUILDING NEAR THE WEST COAST WILL LEAD TO OUR WARMEST
TEMPERATURES OF 2014 DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEK.
&&
.AVIATION...FOR MCCARRAN...SOUTH-SOUTHWEST WIND FOR THE REST OF THE
AFTERNOON WITH GUSTS 20-30 KNOTS AT TIMES. THE WIND DIRECTION WILL
GO MORE WESTERLY THIS EVENING AS A POTENT COLD FRONT APPROACHES.
BEST GUESS PUTS THE COLD FRONT THROUGH THE LAS VEGAS VALLEY BETWEEN
04Z-06Z THIS EVENING. THERE LOOKS TO BE A 3 TO 5 HOUR PERIOD FOR THE
POTENTIAL OF VERY STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS WITH GUSTS APPROACHING 50
KNOTS. REDUCED VISIBILITIES IN BLOWING DUST POSSIBLE. BE AWARE THAT
LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR AND MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE IS POSSIBLE.
NORTH-NORTHEAST WIND WILL DIMINISH SOME AFTER MIDNIGHT BUT DIRECTION
AND SPEED WILL LIKELY FAVOR CONFIG 3 THROUGH SUNDAY.
FOR THE REST OF SOUTHERN NEVADA...NORTHWEST ARIZONA...AND SOUTHEAST
CALIFORNIA...STRONG WEST WIND ACROSS THE MOJAVE DESERT WHILE STRONG
NORTHWEST WIND DEVELOPS ACROSS SOUTHERN NEVADA ASSOCIATED WITH A
COLD FRONT THIS EVENING. SUSTAINED WIND OF 25 TO 35 KNOTS WITH GUSTS
LOCALLY OVER 50 KNOTS POSSIBLE TONIGHT. REDUCED VISIBILITIES IN
BLOWING DUST POSSIBLE. BE AWARE THAT LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR AND
MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE IS POSSIBLE. ISOLATED SHOWERS ARE
EXPECTED TONIGHT AND SUNDAY ACROSS LINCOLN AND NORTHERN MOHAVE
COUNTIES. NORTH-NORTHEAST WIND 15 TO 30 KNOTS WITH GUSTS UP TO 40
KNOTS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE SUNDAY.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...AFTER POOR HUMIDITY RECOVERY TONIGHT...VALUES WILL
QUICKLY FALL BELOW 15 PERCENT SUNDAY MORNING. STRONG NORTH WINDS
THAT DEVELOP BEHIND A COLD FRONT TONIGHT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE
DAY SUNDAY WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH POSSIBLE WITHIN THE COLORADO
RIVER VALLEY. THE START TIME OF THE RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN MOVED
FORWARD TO 8 AM SUNDAY AND RUNS THROUGH 8 PM SUNDAY EVENING.
&&
.VEF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NV...HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 PM PDT SUNDAY FOR
NVZ016-018>022.
RED FLAG WARNING FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM PDT SUNDAY FOR NVZ462-465-466.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 5 PM PDT SUNDAY FOR NVZ014-015-017.
AZ...HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 PM MST SUNDAY FOR
AZZ002-036.
RED FLAG WARNING FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM MST SUNDAY FOR AZZ101.
WIND ADVISORY FROM 8 AM TO 5 PM MST SUNDAY FOR AZZ003.
CA...HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 PM PDT SUNDAY FOR
CAZ527.
RED FLAG WARNING FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM PDT SUNDAY FOR CAZ229.
HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 5 PM PDT SUNDAY FOR CAZ520>526.
&&
PIERCE
FOR MORE FORECAST INFORMATION...SEE US ON OUR WEBPAGE:
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGAS OR FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTERHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV 608 AM PDT SAT MAY 10 2014 CAZ519>526-NVZ014-015-017-110415- EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES-OWENS VALLEY-WHITE MOUNTAINS OF INYO COUNTY- DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK-WESTERN MOJAVE DESERT- EASTERN MOJAVE DESERT-MORONGO BASIN-CADIZ BASIN- ESMERALDA AND CENTRAL NYE COUNTY-LINCOLN COUNTY- WESTERN CLARK AND SOUTHERN NYE COUNTY- 608 AM PDT SAT MAY 10 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION TODAY WITH GUSTY WEST WINDS OCCURRING AHEAD OF THE FRONT ACROSS SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY AND GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT. WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE AND VISIBILITIES MAY BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN 4 MILES IN BLOWING DUST AND SAND. SEVERAL HIGH WIND WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT. MUCH COOLER TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED BEHIND THE FRONT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL REMAIN OVER THE AREA THROUGH SUNDAY...BUT WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH MONDAY AS TEMPERATURES START TO REBOUND. VERY WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES...ESPECIALLY ANY WIND DAMAGE THAT MAY OCCUR. AZZ002-036-CAZ527-NVZ016-018>022-110415- LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA- SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY-UPPER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY- NORTHEAST CLARK COUNTY-SHEEP RANGE-SPRING MOUNTAINS- LAS VEGAS VALLEY-SOUTHERN CLARK COUNTY- 608 AM PDT SAT MAY 10 2014 /608 AM MST SAT MAY 10 2014/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST ARIZONA...CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT DRY AND MILD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TODAY...BUT A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT PRODUCING GUSTY NORTH WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT. WINDS UP TO 60 MPH ARE POSSIBLE BEHIND THE FRONT AND HIGH WIND WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT. LOW VISIBILITIES ARE POSSIBLE IN BLOWING DUST AND SAND. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL REMAIN OVER THE AREA THROUGH SUNDAY...BUT WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH MONDAY AS TEMPERATURES START TO REBOUND. VERY WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES...ESPECIALLY ANY WIND DAMAGE THAT MAY OCCUR. AZZ001-003-110415- NORTHWEST PLATEAU-NORTHWEST DESERTS- 608 AM MST SAT MAY 10 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST ARIZONA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS THIS AFTERNOON AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT THAT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION TODAY. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL REMAIN OVER THE AREA THROUGH SUNDAY...BUT WILL GRADUALLY DIMINISH MONDAY AS TEMPERATURES START TO REBOUND. VERY WARM AND DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER... 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.
6 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The peak gust occurred 44 miles ENE of Beatty at 1800 PST. Dust storm conditions were also reported by a spotter in Dyer.
High winds blew down several large tree limbs at Cathedral Gorge State Park. The event time is estimated.
This gust was measured 5 miles NW of Pahrump.
This gust occurred 1 mile ESE of Red Rock Canyon.
Two trampolines became airborne, trees blew down into roads, seriously damaging at least one car, several canopies at Planet Hollywood blew into the street, a carport at an apartment complex tipped over, and about 18,000 customers lost power.
In the Callville Bay area, damage included 17 house trailer skirts; nine trailer awnings; several trailer roofs; flying debris damage to some vehicles, one houseboat, and a dock; a 25 foot sailboat which was flipped off a trailer; and damage to NV Energy infrastructure. At the Las Vegas Boat Harbor, one dock was pushed 20 feet and the bridge leading to it was damaged. Two other docks and private boats were also damaged. One man was presumed drowned in Lake Mead after high winds blew away his boat and caused waves in the lake.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Wind, Lake Mead/Lake Mohave National Recreation Area | 2014-05-10 | Male | In Water | Direct |
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, May 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: 515600, 515601, 515602, 515603, 515610, 523714.