The winter season's first strong atmospheric river moved slowly south from the Pacific Northwest coast between the 15th and the 16th before moving inland over northern California and Nevada on the 17th. The system brought high winds, significant snow, and rain to the Sierra Nevada and western Nevada.
Every event with a place to put it; 9 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.
The winter season's first strong atmospheric river moved slowly south from the Pacific Northwest coast between the 15th and the 16th before moving inland over northern California and Nevada on the 17th. The system brought high winds, significant snow, and rain to the Sierra Nevada and western Nevada.
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 Nov 14, 3:00 PM PST, 9 hours earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
300 PM PST Tue Nov 14 2017
.SYNOPSIS...
A strong atmospheric river storm will impact the region Wednesday
into Thursday. Strong damaging winds are expected Wednesday
afternoon across western Nevada with high fire danger. Heavy rain
and mountain snow will arrive Wednesday into Thursday in the
Sierra with high snow levels. A cold front will drop snow levels
Wednesday night into Thursday and will provide spillover rainfall
across western Nevada.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
A strong Atmospheric River (AR) storm is expected to move in
Wednesday and Thursday. This storm will be the strongest of the
fall season so far, in terms of winds and precipitation. Winds
will increase Wednesday morning ahead as the leading edge of the
storm moves into northern CA/NV. Cold front will move through
Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, lowering snow levels and
bringing heavy spillover into the western Nevada and northeastern
CA valleys.
Update summary to the forecast this afternoon:
* Very strong damaging winds forecast for the Sierra Front and
Highway 395/Interstate 580 corridor. High wind warnings are in
place for Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning.
* High winds and dry vegetation along the Western Nevada Sierra
Front, West-Central Nevada, and the Eastern Sierra in Mono
County will lead to critical fire weather conditions. Red Flag
Warnings have been issued for Wednesday.
* Storm continues to look warmer and wetter, so we have increased
precipitation totals. Heavy snow totals are still expected for
the High Sierra. Winter Storm Warnings have been issued for the
Sierra zones, for heavy snow in the high elevations and high
winds.
TIMING:
Wind: Strongest winds are expected Wednesday afternoon and
evening and will decrease briefly for Thursday morning. Wind gusts
of 55-70 mph will be widespread mainly from the Carson Valley
through Reno and into northern Washoe County. Wind prone locations
could see localized 70+ mph gusts. Aviation impacts expected
along with road restrictions for high profile vehicles. Blowing
dust will be a concern for areas east of Reno, especially for
Churchill, Pershing, and Mineral counties. High winds will also
lead to critical fire weather conditions for the lower elevations
along and east of Highway 395 where dry vegetation still exists.
Precipitation: Moderate to heavy rainfall arriving my mid-
afternoon Wednesday in the northern Sierra and Tahoe Basin with
the peak intensity occurring from late afternoon through Thursday
morning. Heavier precipitation won't arrive in Mono County until
Wednesday evening. Spillover rainfall for western Nevada will
arrive with the front probably after midnight and will persist
into early Thursday morning.
PRECIPITATION:
Tahoe Basin & Northeast CA:
Liquid totals through Thursday evening look solidly in the 3-4"
range with up to 5"+ right along the Sierra crest. Heaviest
snowfall will generally remain above 8,000 feet where 2-3 feet of
heavy wet snow is possible. Localized areas of 4'+ are possible
right along the Sierra Crest. Snow levels should begin to fall
after midnight Wednesday night at which point winter travel
impacts may begin on the passes. Snow levels are hanging up for a
longer period of time and may not fall all the way to Lake Tahoe
level until Thursday evening, with a few inches of snow Thursday
night into Friday morning.
Mono County:
Liquid totals through Thursday evening look similar and in the
2-4"+ range. Snow levels will be a bit higher and in the
8,000-8,500' range. Snow totals in the high Sierra over 8000 feet
will be around 2-3 feet with localized areas up to 3'+ along the
Sierra Crest. Precipitation totals are lower confidence in Mono
County however as some model guidance were showing a longer
duration of heavier precipitation. Latest runs do seem to have
Tahoe and the northern Sierra in the bullseye, but this could
easily shift further south into Mono County.
Western Nevada:
Spillover rainfall looks to occur in about a 6 hour window roughly
after midnight Wednesday night into Thursday morning through about
the I-80/Hwy 50 corridor before the front pushes south through the
region Thursday morning. Rainfall amounts of 0.50"-1.5" are
possible through the Hwy 395/I-580 corridor with amounts closer to
0.25" across the Basin and Range including areas such as Lovelock
and Fallon. Fuentes/Hoon
.LONG TERM...Friday through early next week
The midweek storm is expected to exit western NV by the end of the
week, although some leftover rain and snow showers are possible
Friday morning, with snow levels down near 4500 feet. For the
remainder of Friday into Saturday, a flat ridge will keep dry
conditions with areas of high clouds over the region, with highs a
few degrees below average Friday then trending warmer going into the
weekend.
Another Pacific storm system is then projected to reach the eastern
Sierra by the Sunday-Monday time frame. This storm currently looks
to be on the warm side with snow levels likely remaining above 8000
feet. The latest guidance is also trending toward a split trough,
but disagrees on whether the split occurs before or after this
trough moves inland. The offshore splitting scenario would keep most
precip limited to the Sierra, while the inland scenario would
potentially bring a short period of rain to lower elevations of
western NV. The longwave pattern downstream seems to be favoring the
ridge prevailing between the Rockies and the central US while a cold
trough digs over the eastern US, which would probably be sufficient
to split the incoming trough before it reaches the Sierra. However,
this is a period of below average forecast confidence due to the
range of possibilities with the track of this trough. At this time,
we will start with better precip chances near the Sierra and
northeast CA, but relatively modest rain chances across western NV
valleys. MJD
&&
.AVIATION...
A powerful storm system begins to affect the Sierra and western
Nevada Wednesday through Thursday. This storm will be the strongest
so far this season with more precipitation, strong winds, and
lowering snow levels by Thursday.
Winds will begin to increase across the mountain tops tonight and
significantly increase further Wednesday. LLWS will be likely by
midday Wednesday as southerly winds develop across valleys and
southwest ridge level winds increase to 55-70 kts with gusts
approaching 90kt. The period from 18Z Wednesday to 06Z Thursday
appears to be the most critical window for wind, especially for the
eastern Sierra along the Highway 395 corridor extending out to Hwy
95. Sustained winds 25-35 kts with gusts to 50 kts will be
widespread and there could even be a period of stronger winds from
Reno south toward KMMH late Wednesday afternoon and evening ahead of
the precipitation band.
Rain will reach the Sierra Wednesday afternoon and will spill over
into western NV along and north of I-80. As this rain band shifts
southward overnight, surface winds will ease although ridge level
winds are going to remain strong and turbulence will persist.
Moderate to occasionally heavy rain in the Tahoe Basin will push
CIGS/VSBY down to MVFR levels Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
This band of rain will shift southward into the eastern Sierra of
Mono County for Thursday with lowering CIGS/VSBY at KMMH. As far as
snowfall, several inches may accumulate at KTRK/KTVL Thursday
morning as snow levels fall. Hohmann/Edan
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...High Wind Warning from 10 AM Wednesday to 4 AM PST Thursday
NVZ003-005.
Red Flag Warning from 10 AM to 7 PM PST Wednesday NVZ450.
Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM Wednesday to 4 AM PST Friday
above 7000 feet in NVZ002.
Red Flag Warning from 10 AM to 7 PM PST Wednesday NVZ453-459.
Wind Advisory from 10 AM Wednesday to 4 AM PST Thursday
NVZ001-004.
CA...Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM Wednesday to 4 AM PST Friday
above 6000 feet in CAZ071.
High Wind Warning from 10 AM Wednesday to 4 AM PST Thursday
CAZ070.
Red Flag Warning from 10 AM to 7 PM PST Wednesday CAZ273.
Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM Wednesday to 4 AM PST Friday
above 8000 feet in CAZ073.
Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM Wednesday to 4 AM PST Friday
above 7000 feet in CAZ072.
&&
For more information from the National Weather Service visit...
http://weather.gov/renoPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RENO NV
749 PM PST TUE NOV 14 2017
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 AM SNOW HEAVENLY VALLEY 38.96N 119.89W
11/14/2017 M2.0 INCH DOUGLAS NV PUBLIC
HEAVENLY SKI RESORT REPORTED 2 INCHES OF SNOWFALL
OVERNIGHT AT MID-MOUNTAIN.
0900 AM SNOW 1 W HOMEWOOD 39.08N 120.18W
11/14/2017 M2.0 INCH PLACER CA PUBLIC
HOMEWOOD MOUNTAIN RESORT REPORTED 2 INCHES OF SNOWFALL
OVERNIGHT AT SUMMIT.
0900 AM SNOW SQUAW VALLEY 39.20N 120.22W
11/14/2017 M5.0 INCH PLACER CA PUBLIC
SQUAW VALLEY SKI RESORT REPORTED 5 INCHES OF SNOWFALL
OVERNIGHT AT 8000 FEET, WITH 1 INCH OF SNOWFALL AT 6800
FEET.
0900 AM SNOW 1 NNE MOUNT ROSE SUMMIT 39.32N 119.89W
11/14/2017 M4.0 INCH WASHOE NV PUBLIC
MOUNT ROSE SKI AREA REPORTED 4 INCHES OF SNOWFALL
OVERNIGHT AT 8260 FEET.
&&
EVENT NUMBER REV1700020
EVENT NUMBER REV1700021
EVENT NUMBER REV1700022
EVENT NUMBER REV1700023
JOHNSTONThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 high wind, 4 heavy rain, 2 heavy snow, 1 avalanche. Local standard time, as filed.
Reno-Tahoe International Airport ASOS reported 0.96 inches of rainfall in a 48-hour time period from 15 November 0000PST to 17 November 0000PST.
A total of 26 inches of snow fell at the base of the Mount Rose Ski Area (8260 feet) in a 24-hour time period from 15 November 0603PST to 16 November 0603PST. Another 14 inches of snow fell between 16 November 0603PST to 17 November 0603PST to bring the base to a storm total of an estimated 40 inches of snow.
Trained weather spotter measured 12 inches of snow in a 24-hour time period at an elevation of 7600 feet 1-mile north-northwest of Incline Village, Nevada.
Trained weather spotter measured 5.50 inches of rain from November 15 0800PST to November 16 1805PST.
A trained weather spotter reported 4.47 inches of rain from 15 November 0800PST to 16 November 2000PST at an elevation of 5300 feet.
RAWS sensor at Little Valley measured 4.46 inches of rain from 15 November 0845PST to 16 November 0845PST.
A mesonet atop Slide Mountain (elevation 9650 feet) measured a 95 mph wind gust.
Galena RAWS reported a wind gust of 62 mph.
Cold Springs NDOT mesonet reported at 62 mph wind gust.
NDOT mesonet on US Highway 395/I-580 at Galena Bridge reported a 75 mph wind gust.
NDOT mesonet on US Highway 395/I-580 at Browns Creek Bridge reported a 59 mph wind gust.
NDOT mesonet on US Highway 95 at Walker Lake reported a 76 mph wind gust.
A dry slab avalanche occurred on Tamarack Peak within the Hourglass Bowl at 0900PST 16 November and partially buried a female skier and totally buried a male skier. A quote from the Sierra Avalanche Center: The person who was still skiing when the avalanche hit her was blown out of her skis and they were buried. She may have hit a tree and her back began seizing up. The person buried had both skis but lost a pole and one skin and had a torn ligament in his ankle. Therefore from this report, it is evident that both the skiers were injured in this avalanche.
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, November 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: 729283, 728787, 728788, 729288, 729289, 729296, 728789, 728782, 728783, 728784, 728785, 728786, 728944.