Low pressure near the northern California coast and daytime heating combined to bring strong to severe thunderstorms to the western Nevada Basin and Range on the 24th and 25th.
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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.
Low pressure near the northern California coast and daytime heating combined to bring strong to severe thunderstorms to the western Nevada Basin and Range on the 24th and 25th.
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 Jul 24, 1:05 PM PST, 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Reno NV 205 PM PDT Mon Jul 24 2017 .SYNOPSIS... Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected through Tuesday for northeast California and western Nevada. Stronger afternoon and evening storms could bring damaging winds, small hail, heavy rain, and localized flash flooding. Drier air intrudes Wednesday resulting in reduced coverage of thunderstorms with dry weather expected Thursday through Saturday. Near average high temperatures rise to above seasonal averages late this week. && .DISCUSSION... The necessary ingredients for significant thunderstorm activity are in place this afternoon and evening: Low Pressure off the California Coast, PWats >0.7", a series of impulses, and strong afternoon heating. Expect coverage of thunderstorms to continue to expand this afternoon. Some cells will rather strong producing strong winds, hail, localized flash flooding, and blowing dust. There have already New fire starts will also be possible, especially north of Interstate 80 where cell motions are above 20 kts. Thunderstorms will continue into the overnight hours as elevated instability remains: CAPE will continue to be >250 J/kg. Expect the potential for a few new fire starts mainly for valley locations. Winds aloft slow somewhat Tuesday as moisture continues to increase. Expect another round of scattered showers and thunderstorms. However, with motions being lower, the threat of flash flooding is marginally higher, especially over recent burn scars. Highest threat burn scars include the Farad and Earthstone scars. Conditions begin to dry Wednesday as dry air intrudes the region while the upper low circulation opens and ejects northeastward. Coverage of thunderstorms drops significantly with convection remaining possible for northern Lassen/Washoe counties and areas east of Highway 95A. Boyd Dry southwest flow returns to the region for the last half of the week. Temperatures will be increasing, with highs reaching into the upper 90s once again with 80s in the Sierra by Thursday. The Four Corners High remains in place through the weekend, which will bring southerly flow and spread monsoonal moisture back into our area by Sunday-Monday. We have a slight chance of thunderstorms in the forecast for Sunday-Monday, although mainly for Mono-Mineral Counties as the best chances remain south of highway 50. Hoon .AVIATION... Thunderstorm chances will continue into the evening and overnight hours. The main threats will be lightning, small hail, gusty outflow winds and localized heavy rainfall. Blowing dust will be possible for terminals in the Basin and Range. Thunderstorm chances will continue for Tuesday, but threats will transition to heavy rain and increased potential for flash flooding. Hoon/Boyd && .REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NV...None. CA...None. && For more information from the National Weather Service visit... http://weather.gov/reno
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Reno NV
1207 PM PDT MON JUL 24 2017
CAZ070>073-NVZ001>005-241930-
Surprise Valley California CA-Lassen-Eastern Plumas-
Eastern Sierra Counties CA-Greater Lake Tahoe Area CA-Mono CA-
Greater Lake Tahoe Area NV-
Western Nevada Basin and Range including Pyramid Lake NV-
Northern Washoe County NV-Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area NV-
Mineral and Southern Lyon Counties NV-
1207 PM PDT MON JUL 24 2017
...THUNDERSTORMS ARE BEGINNING TO FIRE UP...
Doppler radar is filling in with thunderstorms firing over terrain
features in northeastern California and western Nevada. These storms
will move off of terrain and impact area valleys through the rest of
this afternoon into this evening.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with any thunderstorms
that occur. These winds will pose a hazard to current wildfire
personnel with additional fire starts possible. Flash flooding is
not out of the question if thunderstorm cells begin to anchor to
terrain features. Areas of blowing dust may occur especially east of
Highway 95A.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Cloud to ground lightning may become frequent in a few of this
afternoon and evening's storm cells. Lightning can strike 10 miles
away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or
vehicle.
If on or near a lake and you see lightning or hear thunder, get out
of the water and move indoors or inside a vehicle. Don't be caught
on the water in a thunderstorm. Strong wind gusts and lightning pose
an immediate danger to boaters. Gusty winds will cause a rapid
increase in wave heights which may capsize small boats.
&&
LAT...LON 3773 11926 4059 12132 4118 12133 4119 12005
4170 12023 4199 12004 4200 12001 4199 11932
4096 11933 4086 11765 4068 11764 4068 11730
3955 11749 3910 11778 3900 11819 3847 11770
3789 11842 3747 11783 3746 11784 3746 11878
TIME...MOT...LOC 1859Z 240DEG 0KT 3924 11929
MBSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Reno NV
218 PM PDT MON JUL 24 2017
NVZ003-004-242145-
Western Nevada Basin and Range including Pyramid Lake NV-
Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area NV-
218 PM PDT MON JUL 24 2017
...STRONG STORM MOVING TOWARDS PYRAMID LAKE...
At 216 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm
southwest of Nixon moving northeast at 20 mph.
Winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Pyramid Lake, Nixon, Virginia Peak and Tohakum Peak.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If on or near Pyramid Lake, get out of the water and move indoors or
inside a vehicle. Don't be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.
Strong wind gusts and lightning pose an immediate danger to boaters.
Gusty winds will cause a rapid increase in wave heights which may
capsize small boats.
&&
LAT...LON 3969 11941 3975 11956 4012 11968 4021 11942
3988 11902
TIME...MOT...LOC 2116Z 221DEG 15KT 3983 11937
MBThe Reno radar (KRGX), 45 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:58 UTC.
1 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
A mud and debris flow caused the closure of the Ramsey Weeks Cutoff between Highway 50 and Alternate US 50 on the afternoon of the 24th.
Eighteen power poles were snapped along Farm District Road, with short dry grass completely stripped from a nearby field. The wind gust was an estimate based on a utility company foreman's experience, who stated that it usually takes around 100 mph to snap power poles cleanly. Minor damage was reported to 4 homes and numerous billboards along Interstate 80 near mile marker 48, with moderate damage to 3 trucks and 2 outbuildings. Radar and damage patterns (examined by a NWS employee) did not indicate any rotation so straight-line winds are the most probable cause.
A funnel cloud was photographed in the Gabbs Valley Range east of Hawthorne, with the position an estimate based on observed terrain features. It is possible that there was a tornado touchdown; however, terrain obscured the base of the funnel and no additional evidence was available.
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, July 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: 715761, 715773, 715775.