A strong low pressure system over the Pacific Northwest brought locally high winds to the Mojave Desert.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 low pressure system over the Pacific Northwest brought locally high winds to the Mojave Desert.
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 Oct 16, 7:36 PM PST, 1 hour 19 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 836 PM PDT SUN OCT 16 2016 .SYNOPSIS...The last big storm will roll into the Pacific Northwest tonight, with one more round of strong winds for the Desert Southwest. Winds will decrease on Monday, then north winds will increase Tuesday and Wednesday as high pressure builds offshore. Very strong north winds are possible down the Colorado River Valley Wednesday and Thursday. && .UPDATE...Taking a look at hi-res model cross section across the southern Sierra Nevada through Independence CA indicates downslope wind potential may be subsiding in an hour or two due to more precipitation spilling over the crest. However, threat not over as models show one last surge of winds between 4 am - 8 am Monday morning. As for the Spring Mountains and the potential of winds spreading into the western Las Vegas Valley a cross section through Red Rock Canyon shows best potential of high winds between 9 pm and 5 am Monday. Red Rock RAWS has shown an uptick in winds the past two hours. Bottom line, comfortable with current wind products. Did tweak the POP/Weather and Sky grids some over Inyo County based on radar/satellite and 00z NAM output. && .PREV DISCUSSION...206 PM PDT SUN OCT 16 2016 .SHORT TERM...through Tuesday night. Previous forecast looked good and made only minor tweaks. Winds have been kind of spotty in the Advisory area thus far, but are likely to peak later in the evening into overnight. High resolution models still paint very strong winds in the lee of the Spring Mountains overnight, so the Warning there still looks good. As the main storm swings through the Pacific Northwest, the trough axis will pass through our area early Monday morning, bringing an end to the strongest winds, and also allowing more clouds and precip to spill over the Sierra Crest into the Owens Valley and nearby areas. By noon Monday, precip chances should be over areawide, and winds should be on the decrease everywhere except perhaps northwestern San Bernardino County, where the Wind Advisory may need to be extended. Given the overall complexity right now, believe that decision should wait until tomorrow morning near the scheduled expiration time. Northerly winds will invade the CWA Tuesday and begin to strengthen Tuesday night. .LONG TERM...Wednesday through Saturday. Expanding ridge of high pressure will lead to mild and dry weather for the extended period. Biggest impact will be the north winds which are induced thanks to a strengthening surface high over the Great Basin. This winds will be most concentrated along the Colorado River. Winds will be especially strong near Bullhead City with MOS guidance advertising solid wind advisory criteria for Wednesday into Wednesday night. The north winds may linger into Thursday before subsiding. Otherwise...guidance has seemed to correct the cold bias noted in yesterdays output, with afternoon highs advertised to be 5 to 10 degrees above normal Thursday through the weekend. && .AVIATION...For McCarran...Strong and gusty southwest winds are likely to impact the airfield for much of the night with gusts over 30 knots. If the winds do periodically subside at the airfield overnight, I wouldn't anticipate it lasting for very long. In addition, enhanced surface wind shear will be expected if this occurs. Winds will decrease somewhat in the early morning hours after 12z, but gusts over 20 knots will remain possible through mid morning Monday before shifting northwest in the afternoon. Pockets of severe turbulence can be expected as well, especially downwind of the Spring Mountains. For the rest of southern Nevada...northwest Arizona...and southeast California...Strong and gusty southwest winds can be expected through the night for much of the region with gusts to 35 knots possible. Pockets of severe mechanical turbulence can be expected especially downwind of terrain features. Showers and mountain obscurations are likely near KBIH this evening and overnight. Winds will become lighter by Monday afternoon for most of the region with breezy northwest winds across the Owens Valley and near KBIH. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Gusty winds are expected along and north of Interstate 15 and downwind of mountain ranges today. Spotters are encouraged to report any wind damage or blowing dust/sand and visibility restrictions according to standard operating procedures. && Update...Pierce Short Term...Morgan Long Term/Aviation...Outler For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: http://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
This gust occurred at the Mercury-Desert Rock (KDRA) airport.
Two large trees and a large limb from a third tree were blown down at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, and a tin roof also suffered minor damage. The peak gust was measured 1 mile ESE of Red Rock Canyon.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, October 2016
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: 662067, 662068.