High Wind in Nevada, November 28 to 29, 2014

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
658 PM PST FRI NOV 28 2014

.UPDATE...
A FAIRLY WIDE BAND OF PERSISTENT PRECIPITATION IS STREAMING
ACROSS NORTHERN CA INTO NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA THIS EVENING.
INTENSITIES ARE VARYING WITHIN THE BAND AND CURRENTLY THE HEAVIEST
PCPN IS AROUND CHICO AND TO THE SOUTHWEST OF CHICO. HEAVIER PCPN
MADE ITS WAY INTO WRN LASSEN COUNTY LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
RESULTED IN A BURST OF SNOW AROUND BOGARD. RECENT WEB CAM IMAGERY
SHOWS LIGHT SNOW THERE NOW...BUT WITH NO ACCUMULATION ON THE ROAD
SURFACE YET. VARYING PCPN INTENSITIES CAN PLAY HAVOC WITH SNOW
LEVELS AS THEY FALL WITH EACH HEAVY PULSE OF PCPN THEN TYPICALLY
RISE AGAIN WHEN THE INTENSITY LESSENS. THIS CAN LEAD TO OBSERVED
SNOW LEVELS 1500 TO 2000 FEET LOWER THAN FORECAST. WE ARE CURRENTLY
SEEING THAT IN FAR WRN LASSEN COUNTY AND LIKELY IN PARTS OF
PLUMAS...THOUGH NOT TO THE SAME EXTEND.

AS THE BAND OF PCPN SHOULD CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING...ALBEIT
WITH VARYING INTENSITIES...WE HAVE DROPPED SNOW LEVELS IN WRN
LASSEN AND CENTRAL PLUMAS COUNTY AND ADDED SOME ACCUMULATIONS
BELOW 6000 FEET FOR THE EVENING. NOT ENOUGH FOR AN ADVISORY...BUT
ENOUGH TO POSSIBLY CAUSE SLICK SPOTS ON AREA ROADS AS TEMPS COOL
THIS EVENING.

GUSTY WINDS EAST OF THE SIERRA HAVE STARTED DECREASE. A FEW WIND
PRONE AREAS ARE STILL GUSTING TO 45-50 MPH...BUT MOST AREAS FROM
DOYLE SOUTH INTO MONO COUNTY HAVE LESSENED. STILL...MOISTURE THAT
WOULD TEND TO DAMPEN STRONG WINDS SHOULD BE SLOW TO MOVE INTO
THESE AREAS TONIGHT. SOME DOWN SLOPE ENHANCEMENT IS ALSO POSSIBLE
THROUGH THE NIGHT...ESPECIALLY ACROSS MONO COUNTY. WITH THIS IN
MIND WILL LEAVE THE WIND ADVISORIES IN PLACE FOR NOW.

LAKE WIND ADVISORIES WILL BE ADDRESSED IN A LATER UPDATE.

&&

.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 323 PM PST FRI NOV 28 2014/

SYNOPSIS...

LOW PRESSURE MOVES INTO THE WEST COAST WITH GUSTY WINDS THROUGH
TONIGHT AND PERIODS OF RAIN AND SNOW THROUGH THE WEEKEND. ANOTHER
WET PACIFIC STORM IS EXPECTED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY OF NEXT WEEK.

SHORT TERM...

A POTENT JET STREAM HAS PUSHED INTO OUR REGION TODAY WITH STRONG
GUSTY WINDS AND VERY DRY CONDITIONS IN THE EASTERN SIERRA AND
WESTERN NEVADA. DOWNSLOPING WINDS COMBINED WITH A DRY SLOT ALOFT
HAVE DECREASED HUMIDITY IN MOST LOCATIONS TO LESS THAN 5%, EXTREMELY
DRY FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. THE STRONGEST WINDS SO FAR HAVE BEEN
ALONG THE HIGHWAY 395 CORRIDOR SOUTH OF RENO AND IN GALENA AND
WASHOE VALLEY WHERE GUSTS HAVE REACHED OVER 60 MPH. ELSEWHERE, GUSTS
HAVE REMAINED AROUND 40-50 MPH FOR MOST OF THE DAY. SEE LOCAL STORM
REPORT FOR STRONGEST WIND REPORTS. THE WIND ADVISORIES WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING AS DOWNSLOPING FLOW CONTINUES.

A FRONTAL BOUNDARY IS STRETCHED FROM MODOC COUNTY TO THE NORTHERN CA
COAST THIS AFTERNOON WITH AN ASSOCIATED PLUME OF MOISTURE STRETCHING
OUT IN TO THE PACIFIC. THIS PLUME HAS PWATS OVER 1" AND A COUPLE OF
SHORTWAVES WILL MOVE THROUGH THE MAIN FLOW, DIRECTING RAIN/SNOW INTO
THE SIERRA LATE TONIGHT AND AGAIN LATE SATURDAY NIGHT.

THE LATEST RUNS OF THE NAM AND ECMWF CONTINUE TO SHOW A BULLSEYE OF
PRECIP OVER THE TAHOE BASIN LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY MORNING,
A TREND THAT HAS HELD TOGETHER FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS. THIS HEAVIER
PRECIP MOVING INTO THE TAHOE BASIN AFTER MIDNIGHT WILL BRING THE
SNOW LEVELS DOWN TO LAKE TAHOE LEVEL BY EVAPORATIVE COOLING (AROUND
5500-6000 FEET). THE GFS, HOWEVER, HANGS THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY NORTH
OF TAHOE AND BRINGS MUCH LESS PRECIP FOR THE TAHOE BASIN. THIS
DISCREPANCY LEADS TO UNCERTAINTY IN THE FORECAST, BUT WE STILL HAVE
HIGH ENOUGH FORECAST CONFIDENCE TO ISSUE A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
FOR THE LAKE TAHOE BASIN DUE TO THE INCREASED IMPACTS TO HOLIDAY
TRAVELERS. WE EXPECT ANYWHERE FROM 1 TO 4 INCHES AROUND LAKE TAHOE
AND TRUCKEE BY SATURDAY MORNING...WITH 4 TO 8 INCHES ABOVE 7000
FEET. LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE LIKELY WEST OF HIGHWAY 89. ANYONE
TRAVELING OVER THE SIERRA/TAHOE PASSES TONIGHT OR SATURDAY MORNING
SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR SLICK WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS.

ON SATURDAY, A BACK DOOR COLD FRONT WILL DROP INTO FAR NORTHERN
NEVADA FROM THE NORTH AS A SURFACE HIGH BUILDS INTO THE PAC NW. THIS
WILL SETUP A BAND OF LOW LEVEL FRONTOGENESIS/PRECIP NORTH OF
SUSANVILLE SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT. THERE IS MUCH UNCERTAINTY
HERE, ESPECIALLY IN LOCATION OF THE BAND AND SNOW LEVELS THAT COULD
BE ANYWHERE FROM 6000 TO AS LOW AS VALLEY FLOORS NORTH OF PYRAMID
LAKE. IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW FAR SOUTH THE COLD AIR PUSHES INTO
WESTERN NEVADA. ANYWAY, THERE SHOULD BE GENERALLY LESS THAN 0.25" OF
PRECIP IN WESTERN NEVADA THROUGH THE WEEKEND, BUT THERE IS POTENTIAL
SOME LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS NORTH OF SUSANVILLE AND GERLACH
SATURDAY EVENING AND SUNDAY MORNING. A SECOND SHORTWAVE MOVING
THROUGH NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WILL ALSO BRING ADDITIONAL SNOW TO THE
SIERRA AND RAIN IN WESTERN NEVADA BY SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY
MORNING.

RIDGING BUILDS BACK INTO CA/NV SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY, BRINGING A
BREAK IN THE ACTION BEFORE THE NEXT PACIFIC STORM MOVES INTO THE
WEST COAST TUESDAY. HOON

LONG TERM...TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...

SOME CONTINUITY WAS STARTING TO SHOW UP WITH THE TIMING OF NEXT
WEEK'S STORM SYSTEM. PRECIPITATION IS NOW PROJECTED TO SPREAD INTO
THE REGION ON TUESDAY, WITH THE BEST CHANCES FOR RAIN AND HIGH
ELEVATION SNOW CONTINUING TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY.

HOWEVER, CONFIDENCE IS SOMEWHAT LOWER WITH SNOW LEVELS AND PRECIP
AMOUNTS SINCE THE TRAJECTORY OF THE MOISTURE FEED AND STORM TRACK
VARIES AMONG THE MEDIUM RANGE GUIDANCE. PRELIMINARY SNOW LEVELS
GENERALLY RANGE FROM 7000-8000 FEET ON TUESDAY, THEN DROP SLOWLY TO
BETWEEN 6500-7000 FEET ON WEDNESDAY, BUT COULD FLUCTUATE BY A FEW
HUNDRED FEET IN EITHER DIRECTION DUE TO THESE STORM TRACK
UNCERTAINTIES. A BAND OF SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE MAY ALSO BE DRAWN INTO
THE SIERRA, WHICH COULD PUSH SNOW LEVELS EVEN HIGHER, ESPECIALLY FOR
THE FIRST 6-12 HOURS OF THIS EVENT.

MODEL FORECASTS ARE SUGGESTING BETWEEN 1-2 INCHES OF LIQUID PRECIP
IN THE SIERRA, WHICH COULD YIELD UP TO 2 FEET OF SNOW ABOVE 7500
FEET. BELOW THIS ELEVATION, SNOWFALL POTENTIAL IS MUCH MORE
DIFFICULT TO PROJECT DUE TO THE VARIANCE IN SNOW LEVELS, AND WOULD
ALSO DEPEND ON TIME OF DAY OR NIGHT WHEN HEAVIER PRECIP RATES OCCUR.
THE LOCATION AND DURATION OF THE HEAVIER PRECIP STILL REMAINS
UNCERTAIN, SO THE RAIN AND SNOW AMOUNTS ARE STILL SUBJECT TO
CHANGE.

FOR WESTERN NEVADA, RAIN WILL OCCASIONALLY SPILL INTO LOWER
ELEVATIONS FROM LATE TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY, BUT THE LOCATION OF
HEAVIER RAIN BANDS STILL VARIES, SO ROUGH ESTIMATES FOR RAIN AMOUNTS
STILL VARY WIDELY FROM BELOW 0.10 INCH TO AROUND 0.50 INCH.

BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT, OVERALL PRECIP IS EXPECTED TO WIND DOWN,
ALTHOUGH MOIST UPSLOPE FLOW WEST OF THE SIERRA CREST COULD KEEP
SHOWERS GOING MAINLY NEAR THE SIERRA FROM TAHOE NORTHWARD TO WESTERN
LASSEN COUNTY. THE 12Z ECMWF FAVORS A LONGER DURATION OF THIS
UPSLOPE FLOW COMPARED TO THE GFS, ALTHOUGH THE PRECIP AMOUNTS HAVE
COME DOWN COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS RUN.

THE DRYING TREND SHOULD CONTINUE FOR THE LATTER PORTION OF NEXT
WEEK, WITH PRECIP CHANCES REMOVED FOR ALL AREAS BY FRIDAY AS
GUIDANCE REBUILDS RIDGE INTO CA-NV.

DAYTIME TEMPERATURES SHOULD REMAIN NEAR OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL FOR
MUCH OF NEXT WEEK, WITH MILD NIGHTS ESPECIALLY THROUGH WEDNESDAY
NIGHT AS CLOUD COVER INHIBITS RADIATIONAL COOLING. MJD

AVIATION...

WINDY AND TURBULENT CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE REGION
THROUGH SATURDAY WITH STRONGEST GUSTS 35-45 KT MOST LIKELY THRU 03Z
THIS EVENING. SOME LLWS WILL BE POSSIBLE TONIGHT FOR THE TAHOE AND
WESTERN NV TERMINALS AS SOME LULLS IN WINDS OCCUR NEAR THE SURFACE
WHILE STRONGER WINDS PERSIST A FEW HUNDRED FEET ABOVE THE VALLEYS
AND AT RIDGE LEVEL.

FOR PRECIP, SOME MVFR CIGS/VSBY FROM KSVE NORTHWARD SLOWLY MOVES
SOUTH INTO THE TAHOE BASIN BETWEEN 08-12Z SAT. COOLER AIR AT
KTVL/KTRK COULD BRING SNOW DOWN TO THESE SITES WITH IFR CONDS AND
POSSIBLE LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS ON RUNWAYS MAINLY BETWEEN 12-18Z SAT.

FOR SATURDAY, PRECIP SHADOWING SHOULD KEEP PREVAILING VFR CIGS/VSBY
OVER WESTERN NV TERMINALS, AND AT KMMH AS THE MOISTURE BAND BREAKS
APART AS IT DRIFTS SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 50. MJD

&&

.REV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NV...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR LAKE TAHOE
     IN NVZ002.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM PST
     SATURDAY NVZ002.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM PST SATURDAY NVZ003.

CA...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM PST SATURDAY CAZ073.

     LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM PST THIS EVENING FOR LAKE TAHOE
     IN CAZ072.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM PST
     SATURDAY CAZ072.

&&

FOR MORE INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VISIT...
HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RENO (ALL LOWER CASE)

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
340 PM PST FRI NOV 28 2014

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0836 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSW WASHOE DRIVE FIRE 39.34N 119.81W
11/28/2014  M61.00 MPH       WASHOE             NV   TRAINED SPOTTER

            BROWNS CREEK BRIDGE NV DOT SENSOR MEASURED A WIND GUST OF
            61 MPH.

0850 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST E GALENA                39.38N 119.83W
11/28/2014  M65.00 MPH       WASHOE             NV   TRAINED SPOTTER

            GALENA RAWS MEASURED A WIND GUST OF 65 MPH.

0900 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 5 W DAYTON VALLEY AIRPA 39.22N 119.65W
11/28/2014  M47.00 MPH       LYON               NV   MESONET

            A WIND GUST OF 47 MPH WAS MEASURED AT THE JUNCTION OF
            SR341 AND US HIGHWAY 50.

1030 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 NNE GALENA            39.42N 119.80W
11/28/2014  M45.00 MPH       WASHOE             NV   MESONET

            SOUTHWEST WIND GUST OF 45 MPH WAS MEASURED AT WOLF RUN
            GOLF COURSE.

1104 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SSE DOYLE             40.00N 120.09W
11/28/2014  M55.00 MPH       LASSEN             CA   MESONET

            CALTRANS DOYLE SENSOR MEASURED A WIND GUST OF 55 MPH.

1111 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 N DOYLE               40.06N 120.09W
11/28/2014  M51.00 MPH       LASSEN             CA   TRAINED SPOTTER

            DOYLE RAWS MEASURED A WIND GUST OF 51 MPH.

1130 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SW PLEASANT VALLEY    39.33N 119.79W
11/28/2014  M68.00 MPH       WASHOE             NV   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WEST SOUTHWEST WIND GUST OF 68 MPH MEASURED AT GALENA
            BRIDGE.

1209 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 SW PLEASANT VALLEY    39.33N 119.79W
11/28/2014  M74.00 MPH       WASHOE             NV   MESONET

            PEAK GUST AT GALENA BRIDGE NDOT SITE.

1228 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST JANESVILLE              40.30N 120.55W
11/28/2014  M53.00 MPH       LASSEN             CA   MESONET

1240 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST 3 NE RENO               39.57N 119.80W
11/28/2014  M58.00 MPH       WASHOE             NV   NWS EMPLOYEE

            PEAK GUST AT NWS RENO OFFICE.

0202 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST SE RENO                 39.54N 119.82W
11/28/2014  M47.00 MPH       WASHOE             NV   ASOS

            PEAK GUST AT RENO-TAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

&&

MDEUTSCH