5 inches in the foothills and Carson Range west of Interstate 580 and Highway 395. The higher elevations of the Carson Range received up to several feet of snowfall.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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 REV wrote it up.
Two rounds of precipitation associated with an atmospheric river brought widespread rainfall totals of 1 to 2 inches in far western Nevada, with much higher rainfall and/or liquid equivalent amounts between 3 and 6.5 inches in the foothills and Carson Range west of Interstate 580 and Highway 395. The higher elevations of the Carson Range received up to several feet of snowfall.
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 Feb 6, 3:49 AM PST, 1 hour 41 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
349 AM PST Mon Feb 6 2017
.SYNOPSIS...
Storms will continue to impact the region through the week with very
strong winds, heavy upper elevation snowfall, and periods of
heavy rainfall. Heavy mountain snowfall today will change to very
heavy rainfall tonight into Tuesday as the a second warmer storm
brings a higher risk of flooding to the region, especially to
smaller creeks and poor drainage areas. A third storm Thursday
into early Friday could bring more rain, snow, and wind to the
region.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
The first of a series of three storms is ongoing with moderate to
heavy snowfall in the Sierra. Snow levels are currently hovering
in the 5500-6500 foot range with rain showers effectively
spilling over into west-central Nevada. Precipitation will become
more convective today before the warmer and wetter second storm
begins to make landfall this afternoon. Current water vapor
satellite clearly shows the wide swath of moisture that stretches
from the western U.S. to Hawaii.
* Precipitation/Snow Levels
No considerable changes where made to the QPF or snow levels since
it was raised during the evening update. The moderate to strong
atmospheric river is expected to bring copious amounts of rain and
high elevation snow to the Sierra over the next 48 hours. The
heaviest precipitation is expected late this afternoon through
Tuesday afternoon.
Between now and Tuesday night 6-8 inches of precipitation is
expected along the Sierra Crest with 2-5 inches in the immediate
lee of the mountains. Moisture profiles along the Sierra show a
saturated atmosphere up to 200 mb with 75 kt westerly flow down to
700 mb. This along with an unstable atmosphere in western Nevada
will create periods of effective spillover. Western Nevada
foothills could see 1-2 inches of precipitation with 0.5-1.0
inches in usually shadowed lower valleys. Models typically don't
handle these situations well, either over or under shadowing the
precipitation, so much of the spillover forecast was done
manually.
Snow levels are expected to stay in the 5500-6500 foot range today
before rising dramatically late tonight as the leading edge of the
warm sub-tropical moisture arrives. Overnight tonight 700 mb
temperatures are forecast to rise by around 4-6 degrees C which
should push snow levels into the 8000-9000 foot range. During
heavy precipitation events with strong warm air advection snow
levels can stay 'stuck' lower in some areas for longer than air
temperatures would suggest. Either way, by Tuesday snow levels are
expected to be above all but the highest (Carson/Mt. Rose)
passes.
* Flooding Potential
This amount of precipitation is going to bring renewed flooding
concerns to the region. The highest risk of flooding will be along
the creeks, streams and poor drainage areas. The Pit, Susan, and
Feather Rivers are expected to reach near or above flood stage as
well. The Truckee, Carson, and Walker Rivers will see significant
rises, but are not currently forecast to go above flood stage.
One of the big questions this week is going to be how much rain
the snowpack can handle at different elevations. The new snow
above 6500 feet should be able soak up an appreciable amount of
additional precipitation before it becomes saturated which should
help. This is one of the reasons flooding is less likely on the
Truckee/Carson/Walker Rivers. This is a dynamic situation with
heavy rainfall expected to fall on a near record snowpack and the
forecast could change very quickly if temperatures warm faster or
if the atmospheric river stays directed at the region for a
longer period of time. A Flood Watch is currently out and anyone
with interests in flood prone areas, especially near smaller
creeks, should keep a close eye on the forecast over the next few
days. -Zach
* WINDS
Winds today still look on track. They did pick up last evening, but
have died off a bit at least in most mid slopes and valleys. Sierra
ridge gusts are already up to 125 mph and will continue into the
evening. The warnings and advisories still look good with gusts to
55 mph for the advisory areas and to 65 mph in the Sierra valleys
and along the Sierra Front. These winds will not be continuous, but
erratic so there will be lulls at times.
Tonight into Tuesday is more problematic as the main strong AR moves
into the Sierra. Spillover is expected at least to the 395 corridor,
but 700 mb winds increase to near 80 kts by 15Z Tue. In addition, a
surface low will move near the Oregon border with a good surface
gradient. The lower elevations may not see high winds, but they will
remain gusty overnight into Tuesday with gusts to 55 mph still
likely although the highway 95 corridor will see a bit of a break.
Sierra ridge gusts may exceed 150 mph during this time as well.
Seeing strong valley gusts with the heavy rain near and west of the
395 corridor Tuesday could result in more uprooted trees due to
saturated soils. Something to keep an eye on.
.Long Term...Wednesday through Sunday...
Shortwave ridge develops Wed-Wed ngt in advance of the next in a
series of storms this week. Rain and high elevation snow will be
confined mainly to the Sierra as low level flow slowly backs to a
more southerly direction. Winds will also be in a relative lull
during this time frame although ridge winds will still be gusting to
60-70 mph as 700MB flow remains out of the southwest around 40 kts.
Winds increase late Wednesday night into Thursday as the trough
moves into the west coast. 700MB flow increases to around 65-70 kts
and model soundings currently show a stable layer developing near
ridge level Thursday morning as precipitation banks against the west
slopes of the Sierra. A period of widespread strong winds is
becoming more likely with some downslope potential prior to cold
frontal passage and precipitation spillover Thursday night.
This storm system will bring increased rainfall rates again for
northeast CA and the Sierra Thu-Thu ngt. Current timing favors the
precip becoming heavy in northeast CA during the morning on
Thursday, spreading south to the Tahoe basin and Mono County by
Thursday afternoon. It appears that most of the heavier precip will
occur prior to the cold front passage, leading to another round of
rises on area creeks and rivers and aggravating flood risk in the
poor drainage areas already impacted from the early week storms. The
only notable limiting factor to preventing even worse flood impacts
is that the duration of the peak rainfall rates will likely be
shorter, mainly in a 4-8 hour time frame for eastern CA. Most snow
will be limited to elevations above 8000-8500 feet, where a foot or
more is possible Thursday-Thursday night.
For western NV, we increased POP/QPF Thursday night as forcing and
instability along the cold front should be sufficient to produce a
burst of moderate rain. Amounts will generally be in the 0.10"-0.25"
range except for enhanced values near and west of Hwy 395 as strong
winds aloft favor better spillover during the warm phase of this
system.
By early Friday, the bulk of the heavier precipitation should be
over, while snow levels finally drop to 5000-5500 feet for northeast
CA, near lake level around Tahoe and 6500-7000 feet for Mono County.
One trailing shortwave could keep the shower threat going into
Friday evening, but the moisture feed will be much weaker so only
light precip amounts are anticipated--maybe a couple inches of snow
in portions of eastern CA. We increased the pops slightly and held
over a slight chance even into Saturday as models are a bit slower
in tracking this system out of the region. A ridge gradually builds
into northern CA and northern NV Sunday with cooler and drier
conditions early next week along with gusty east winds over the
ridges. MJD/Hohmann
&&
.AVIATION...
Significant wind and/or weather-related impacts to aviation will be
present with few breaks in storm activity between now and early
Friday. Prepare for flight delays, cancellations, diversions, or a
rough ride in/out of the main terminals if planning air travel this
week.
For lower elevation terminals, winds will be the primary impact now
through Tuesday. Wind gusts will continue to increase with periods
of sustained winds exceeding 30 kt and gusts 40-55 kt, especially
today, with another peak in winds possible during the day Tuesday.
Mountain wave turbulence and rotor activity will produce rough
flying conditions, with LLWS possible at times during rotors or
lulls in winds near the surface. Periods of rain will bring MVFR
conditions at times, with mountain obscuration likely for a
prolonged period through Tuesday.
For the Sierra terminals, snow will reduce CIGS/VSBY to IFR this
morning. This snow may mix with or change to rain at times during
the day at KTVL/KTRK, but windy conditions will prevail. Much warmer
air arrives this evening, which should change precip to all rain at
the Sierra terminals, although the rates of rainfall will likely be
intense enough to keep IFR conditions going through much of Tuesday.
MJD/Hohmann
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Flood Watch from this evening through late Tuesday night NVZ002.
Wind Advisory until 8 PM PST this evening NVZ005.
Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM PST this evening NVZ002.
Wind Advisory from 7 AM this morning to 8 PM PST this evening
NVZ001-004.
High Wind Warning until 8 PM PST this evening NVZ003.
Flood Watch from this evening through late Tuesday night NVZ003.
CA...Flood Watch from this evening through late Tuesday night
CAZ071>073.
Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM PST this evening CAZ071.
Wind Advisory until 8 PM PST this evening CAZ070.
Winter Storm Warning until 10 PM PST this evening CAZ072-073.
&&
For more information from the National Weather Service visit...
http://weather.gov/renoThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 high wind, 2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The Reno-Tahoe International airport recorded a gust to 73 mph at 1934PST on the 6th. Gusts 65 to 73 mph were noted in the foothills along Interstate 580 south of Reno and near the Stead airport.
Twelve to 16 inches of water was running over Mt Rose Highway in the Tahoe Meadows area (near the highway summit) on the morning of the 8th. The highway was closed between Incline Village and the summit until the afternoon of the 9th due to the flooding.
Widespread gusts between 60 and 70 mph were recorded in the valleys on the 9th, with gusts 70 to as high as 92 mph (Browns Creek Bridge on I-580) in the foothills. Numerous downed trees and power lines were noted, with as many as 7,000 to 8,000 customers without power early in the afternoon, mostly in Douglas County. A big rig was blown over on Highway 395 near Stead. Finally, at least 7 flights into the Reno-Tahoe International airport were delayed or cancelled due to the winds.
Periodic sustained winds over 40 mph with gusts as high as 62 mph were reported in various locations from near Lovelock (Toulon NDOT site) south and west to near Lahontan Reservoir (Bango DRI site) and Fallon (Naval Air Station).
Winds over Sweetwater Summit (NV Highway 338) were sustained between 45 and 62 mph with gusts up to 82 mph on the 9th. Elsewhere, Wellington recorded gusts up to 59 mph and the Walker Lake NDOT had brief periods of high winds with gusts as high as 76 mph.
County officials noted that 13 homes were threatened by waters overflowing from Swan Lake and nearby ditches on the 10th. Flooding continued through May, with the worst threat in March as additional rainfall and snowmelt input from Peavine Peak exacerbated flooding. Significant flooding continued into April before mitigation efforts began to contain the flooding.
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, February 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: 707560, 707186, 707234, 707650, 707645, 707208.