A strong cold front brought a period of high winds to a portion of west-central Nevada from the evening of the 6th into the morning of the 7th.
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The episode as NWS REV wrote it up.
A strong cold front brought a period of high winds to a portion of west-central Nevada from the evening of the 6th into the morning of the 7th.
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 Apr 6, 8:11 PM PST, 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Reno NV
911 PM PDT Thu Apr 6 2017
.UPDATE...
Warm nose of AR was pushing into the northern Sierra at mid
evening with snow levels jumping to 8000-9000 feet based on Colfax
profiler and Slide Mountain temperatures near freezing. We
received a report of heavy sheets of rain at an elevation at 7600
feet around 9 pm. 00Z NAM/GFS soundings indicate snow levels may
be a bit higher than forecast for the initial part of this main AR
but do show them coming down gradually overnight. Based on these
initially higher snow levels and current rainfall rates up to
0.30-0.40"/hour, a few rock and mudslides in steeper terrain and
some minor flooding of smaller creeks and streams is becoming a
bit more likely. Mainstem rivers will also see a solid rise but
right now are expected to remain below flood levels (the exception
might be the Middle Fork Feather at Portola which could get close
to flood by late Saturday). We will make some minor adjustments
to snow levels for the next several hours, otherwise hold fast to
the ongoing forecast and continue to monitor creeks, streams and
reports for potential advisory/warning headlines. Hohmann
&&
.SYNOPSIS...
Strong wind will continue through Friday with multiple rounds of
heavy rain and higher elevation snow. Snow and snow pellet
showers will bring additional accumulations Saturday as low as
western Nevada valley floors. A drier pattern is likely for early
next week with another moderate storm possible for the end of next
week.
&&
.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... /Issued 304 PM PDT Thu Apr 6 2017/
SYNOPSIS...
Winds have increased today and will continue into Saturday
morning with the strongest winds expected this afternoon and
Friday afternoon. Multiple rounds of heavy rain and higher
elevation snow will occur tonight through Friday night with snow
and snow pellet showers bringing additional accumulations Saturday
as low as western Nevada valley floors. A drier pattern is likely
for early next week with another moderate storm possible for the
end of next week.
SHORT TERM...Precipitation, Snow, and Snow Levels...
The first wave of moisture is streaming into the Sierra today as
the well advertised atmospheric river begins to make landfall.
Snow levels in northeast California are near 6000 feet with snow
sticking to road and then melting on Fredonyer Summit. In the
Central Sierra snow levels are hovering around 7000 feet, and
around 9000 feet in Mono County. Precipitation intensity is
expected to pick up for late afternoon as strong convective
precipitation moving through the Central Valley impacts the
Sierra with snow begin impacting areas like Carson Pass. Bumped
up precipitation for this evening as this moist flow is
considerably stronger then recent model simulations. The heaviest
wave of precipitation is expected to begin to impact the Sierra
between 9 to 11 pm tonight.
Winter Storm Watches have been upgraded to Warnings for the
Sierra tonight through Saturday. An Avalanche Watch has been
issued through tomorrow morning in the Sierra. Snow level
simulations have narrowed over the last few model runs for
Thursday night into Friday. The problem is that a forecast snow
level within about 500 feet is considered a forecast success. Snow
levels around the Tahoe basin and Truckee tomorrow are expected
to be in the 6000-7000 foot range, so if the forecast is off by
just a few hundred feet a dramatic difference in snow amounts
could occur. Also, snow levels could fluctuate by 500-1000 feet
during the day and over relatively short distances depending on
precipitation intensity. Therefore forecast confidence in snow
amounts in the 6000-7000 foot range (7000-8000 in Mono County, and
5000-6000 feet in NE CA) are still pretty low. Forecast
confidence is high that snow levels will fall dramatically Friday
night as the main cold front moves through.
Snowfall rates could easily exceed 2"/hr for the higher elevations
tonight into tomorrow morning. For more detailed information
about snow amounts refer to the Winter Storm Warning.
For Western Nevada the best chance for heavy precipitation
currently looks to be midnight through about noon tomorrow with
another shot Friday evening. The caveat being that spillover
precipitation forecasting is extremely hard to predict and I
usually seem to be off by about 6 hours. The best chance to see
accumulating snow in western Nevada is Saturday as convective
showers form very cold air will be in place. Widespread
accumulating snow isn't anticipated at this time, but snow and
snow pellet showers will be able to stick to valley floors and
could cause intermittent travel hazards and then quickly melt off
during breaks in the precipitation.
The Flood Watch will stay in place for the lower elevations. Heavy
rainfall is expected to increase flows along the main stem rivers
with sharp rises and the greatest concern along smaller creeks,
streams, and poor drainage areas in the lower elevations.
Forecasts for the Feather River at Portola have come down over the
last few days as the focus of heaviest precipitation has shifted
towards the central and southern Sierra. At this time only
moderate flooding impacts are expected along creeks and streams,
but if snow levels stay 500-1000 above the current forecast
flooding will be more of an issue. -Zach
WINDS: They increased more rapidly than expected this morning, but
otherwise are going as forecast. There have been some localized
stronger winds to 85 mph along the Sierra Front (Galena) and a
couple in Mono County to 75 mph as well. Otherwise, most gusts are
running 40-55 mph. Winds will increase briefly again this evening
ahead of the main AR event tonight before they decrease with the
onset of widespread rain/snow. With the brief increase in winds
earlier, debated putting upgrading to a warning for the Sierra
Front and issuing for Mono County. However, will continue as is
since the wind increase will be brief and likely localized again.
Friday should see the winds become a bit more widespread for many
areas, but still mostly advisory level with speeds 20-35 mph and
gusts to 55 mph. The one exception looks to be along the Highway
95 corridor where 700 mb winds of 50-55 kts should be able to mix
down. Speeds around 40 mph with gusts to 60-65 are likely for a
2-3 hour period tomorrow afternoon and will upgrade the watch to a
warning. Winds will weaken some Friday night as the next wave of
precip moves in. It will still be breezy and Sierra ridge winds
will gust over 100 mph. Breezy post-frontal conditions will
continue Saturday behind the main cold front as ridge winds
diminish. Wallmann
LONG TERM...Sunday into next weekend...
A few adjustments to the long term as the models and ensembles are
showing a weaker short wave ridge early in the week. They are also
in good agreement with another good storm later in the week and
confidence is higher than average for April that we will have a
spring storm.
It will remain cool Sunday behind the current system with weak
ridging expected Monday into Tuesday. A couple weak short waves in
the flow will move into the Pacific Northwest with weakening cold
fronts washing out near the Oregon Border. There could be a few
showers north of Susanville/Gerlach with these Tuesday.
Temperatures will slowly warm.
Another storm is expected late Wednesday into Friday and this one
looks like a winter/spring storm hybrid. It will draw in some
subtropical moisture as it moves in and snow levels also look to
start colder. Precip may begin Wednesday night and continue off
and on through Friday. Snow levels could start 6-7000 feet and
possibly drop to the valley floors late. It is too early for
amounts, but if current model solutions hold it would be another
significant April storm.
Beyond Friday it could remain somewhat active, depending on where
the next low cuts off which could be on top of us (cold and wet)
or off the coast (warmer/drier). Wallmann
AVIATION...
WINDS THROUGH FRIDAY:
Sierra ridge winds 55-75 kts, with gusts in excess of 100 kts,
tonight into early Friday will cause significant turbulence for
aircraft during descent/climbout to terminals in eastern CA and
western NV (especially outside periods of heavier precipitation),
with pockets of LLWS possible. On Friday, winds stay elevated
although more unidirectional (less chance for LLWS) below ridges as
a front moves into the region. The elevated flow will bring
continued mechanical turbulence downstream of the Sierra.
CIGS/VIS:
For the northern/central Sierra, terrain obscuration will be most
widespread near and west of the crest north of Alpine County into
evening before the main precipitation arrives and brings widespread
lowered CIGS/VIS from later evening through much of Friday. As far
as snow for Lake Tahoe terminals, there is a 70% chance that snow
levels fall enough for rain to go over to all snow Friday morning
and leave a very light snowfall (less than 1") on untreated paved
areas. By late morning and through the afternoon Friday, ground
temperatures should be high enough to melt snow off of paved
terminal areas. Farther south to KBDG and KMMH, the worst CIGS/VIS
are expected after midnight into Friday morning, with prevailing
MVFR CIGS/VIS and occasional IFR VIS possible.
For northeast CA and western NV, the worst CIGS/VIS and terrain
obscuration are expected to be from very early morning to mid-
morning Friday as a front slides into the area and brings widespread
rain to terminals. A several hour period of MVFR CIGS with pockets
of MVFR VIS is expected then. Snyder
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Flood Watch from midnight PDT tonight through Saturday morning
NVZ002-003.
Wind Advisory until 11 PM PDT Friday NVZ003-005.
Lake Wind Advisory until midnight PDT tonight for Lake Tahoe in
NVZ002.
Winter Storm Warning from midnight tonight to 5 PM PDT Saturday
NVZ002.
High Wind Warning from 8 AM to 11 PM PDT Friday NVZ001-004.
CA...Flood Watch from midnight PDT tonight through Saturday morning
CAZ071>073.
Winter Storm Warning from midnight tonight to 5 PM PDT Saturday
CAZ071.
Wind Advisory until 11 PM PDT Friday CAZ070.
Winter Storm Warning from midnight tonight to 5 PM PDT Saturday
CAZ073.
Lake Wind Advisory until midnight PDT tonight for Lake Tahoe in
CAZ072.
Winter Storm Warning from midnight tonight to 5 PM PDT Saturday
CAZ072.
&&
For more information from the National Weather Service visit...
http://weather.gov/renoThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Sustained winds between 30 and 50 mph, with gusts up to 75 mph, were recorded at the Walker Lake NDOT and Hawthorne airport. Highway 95 between Schurz and Hawthorne was closed at 0115PST on the 7th due to the high winds.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, April 2017
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: 715144.