Heavy Snow in Nevada, January 18 to 19, 2017

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Elko NV
621 PM PST Wed Jan 18 2017

.SYNOPSIS...A series of storm systems will move onshore and pass
over the Great Basin bringing accumulating snow. The first in this
series is currently moving across california and Nevada. The
next in the series should pass over the Great Basin late Friday
through Saturday followed by another system on Sunday.

&&

.UPDATE...With more reports of freezing rain or refreezing liquid
water increased the area covered by the freezing rain in the
forecast and also increased the chance of occurrence to likely.
The impacted areas remain the valleys for Eureka, Lander Humboldt,
and western Elko counties.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED AT 532 PM /

SYNOPSIS...A series of storm systems will move onshore and pass
over the Great Basin bringing accumulating snow. The first in this
series is currently moving across california and Nevada. The
next in the series should pass over the Great Basin late Friday
through Saturday followed by another system on Sunday.

UPDATE...Freezing rain showing up on the WMC ASOS shortly after
5pm this evening. Sent out a message on Facebook and got a quick
reply that there was freezing rain in Battle Mountain as well.
Since there are already WSW products out for snow in these areas,
have issued a special weather statement to note the possibility
of freezing rain through 10pm this evening in elevations below
roughly 5000 feet, after which time all precipitation is expected
to be snow.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED AT 202 PM /

SYNOPSIS...A series of storm systems will move onshore and pass
over the Great Basin bringing accumulating snow. The first in this
series is currently moving across california and Nevada. The
next in the series should pass over the Great Basin late Friday
through Saturday followed by another system on Sunday.

SHORT TERM...Today through Saturday.

Today through Thursday. The first in a series of storm system is
currently passing over california and Nevada which will bring
snow. Temperatures should be below freezing at most locations
with the predominate mode of precipitation being snow with only a
few of the lowest valley receiving snow rain mix. The current
radar shows that light snow should be starting across Humboldt
County. Snow with more significant accumulations should pick up in
Humboldt county as the afternoon progress and gradually spread
eastward to the rest of the CWA. By Thursday morning the
accumulating snow will have spread across the entire CWA. Late
Thursday the system will move eastward seeing the snow tapper off
for most locations. The amount of accumulation should be around
1-3 inches in the valleys of Humboldt County and 2-5 inches
everywhere else. The mountains can see snowfall of 5 inches for
the least impacted areas and over a foot in the most impacted
areas. There will be some gusty winds with the passage of this
system so localized blowing snow and drifting can occur.

Friday morning. There should be a brief lull in the weather with
only remnant flurries with only minor accumulations of less than
half an inch following the departure of the previous system. The
next system will begin to move into the Great Basin late Friday
morning initiating another round of heavier snowfall.

Friday afternoon through Saturday. The next system in the series
will arrive in earnest by friday afternoon across Nevada bringing
another round of heavier snowfall. The heavier snow will start in
the western portions of the CWA late Friday morning and spread
across the CWA by Friday afternoon. The system will then depart
the area early Saturday leaving more scattered light snow for
Saturday afternoon. The accumulations with this system should be
less than the previous one as it is faster moving with less
moisture. Nonetheless the valleys can see snow accumulations of
1-4 inches with the mountains seeing 4-10 inches. There should be
some gusty winds associated with this system so localized blowing
snow and drifting can occur.

LONG TERM...Saturday night through Wednesday. Upper trough moving
onto the west coast Saturday night will begin to spread snow into
northern and central NV late Saturday night and continue through
Monday, with the bulk of the snow falling Sunday and Sunday night.
Expecting a general 3 to 5 inches of snow in the valleys from
Sunday to Monday morning. On Tuesday as system moves off to the
east a cold northerly flow will set in with highs mostly in the
20s to the lower 30s with lows in the single digits. Could see a
few mountain snow showers Tuesday, otherwise dry. Strong upper
ridge begins to build into the region on Wednesday with a return
to valley inversions.

AVIATION UPDATE...Freezing rain was reported shortly after 5pm
this evening at KWMC and will remain possible through 04Z
after which time all precipitation is expected to be snow.

A storm system will spread rain and snow across the
region this afternoon and tonight resulting in widespread MVFR or
lower conditions. Precipitation will begin as rain at KWMC
transiting to snow after 06z. All other TAF sites will see
precipitation as all snow beginning around 00z at KEKO, 08Z at
KELY, and 10z at KEKO. Improving conditions at KWMC after 12z and
after 18z at KEKO and KTPH.

&&

.LKN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory until 10 PM PST Thursday for
Northeastern Nye County-Northern Elko County-South Central Elko
County.

Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM PST Thursday for Humboldt
County-Northern Lander County and Northern Eureka County-
Northwestern Nye County-Ruby Mountains/East Humboldt Range-
Southern Lander County and Southern Eureka County-Southwestern
Elko County.

Winter Weather Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 10 PM PST
Thursday for Southeastern Elko County-White Pine County.

&&

99/99

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Elko NV
529 PM PST Wed Jan 18 2017

NVZ030-031-036-038-190600-
Humboldt County-Northern Elko County-
Northern Lander County and Northern Eureka County-
Southwestern Elko County-
Including the cities of Winnemucca, McDermitt, Paradise Valley,
Golconda Summit, Jackpot, Wildhorse, Owyhee, Battle Mountain,
Emigrant Pass, Elko, Spring Creek, and Carlin
529 PM PST Wed Jan 18 2017

...Rain snow mix can transition quickly over to light freezing
rain at lower elevations in the valleys during the evening
hours...

With rapidly cooling conditions aloft freezing rain has and can
continue to occur at lower elevations in the valley. There will
not be heavy accumulations of freezing rain however even a little
icing can cause black ice and dangerous slick spots on the roads.

Motorists should remain alert to rapidly changing weather and
Road conditions due to the elevation dependence of this storm.

Visit www.weather.gov/elko for the latest weather information.

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Elko NV
618 PM PST Wed Jan 18 2017

NVZ030-031-036>038-190430-
Humboldt County-Northern Elko County-
Northern Lander County and Northern Eureka County-
Southern Lander County and Southern Eureka County-
Southwestern Elko County-
Including the cities of Winnemucca, McDermitt, Paradise Valley,
Golconda Summit, Jackpot, Wildhorse, Owyhee, Battle Mountain,
Emigrant Pass, Austin, Austin Summit, Eureka, Diamond Valley,
Pinto Summit, Elko, Spring Creek, and Carlin
618 PM PST Wed Jan 18 2017

...Rain snow mix can transition quickly over to light freezing
rain at lower elevations in the valleys during the evening
hours...

With rapidly cooling conditions aloft freezing rain has and can
continue to occur at lower elevations in the valley. There will
not be heavy accumulations of freezing rain however even a little
icing can cause black ice and dangerous slick spots on the roads.
In addition any melted precipitation or water on the roads will
freeze on the roads causing black ice and slick spots. Use
extreme caution when traveling as there have been reports of
accidents caused by black ice. Most impacted will be the passes on
I-80 such as Emigrant pass and Golconda summit pass.

Visit www.weather.gov/elko for the latest weather information.