Heavy Snow in Nevada, September 21, 2017

Name: Heavy Snow in Nevada, September 21, 2017
Start: 2017-09-21T01:00
End: 2017-09-21T19:00
Location: Nevada

September 21, 2017 · NWS LKN · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

An early season winter-like storm brought heavy snow to portions of eastern Nevada. Significant tree damage was reported in Ely and Ruth due to the heavy wet snow.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS LKN wrote it up.

An early season winter-like storm brought heavy snow to portions of eastern Nevada. Significant tree damage was reported in Ely and Ruth due to the heavy wet snow. In the Ruby Mountains up to 2 feet of snow was reported.

What forecasters said that day

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 Elko, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 20, 7:32 PM PST, 5 hours 28 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 20, 7:32 PM PST, 5 hours 28 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Elko NV
Issued by National Weather Service RENO NV
832 PM PDT Wed Sep 20 2017

.UPDATE...
A cold front continued to work across northern NV this evening
with a solid band of moderate precipitation occurring along the
I-80 corridor. As cooler air works into northern NV behind this
front, gradients will relax and winds will continue to decrease.
We have dropped the wind advisory for Humboldt County a little
early as winds there were already diminishing. Latest model
simulations indicate the front and band of rain/snow will continue
to track slowly southeastward through the night into Thursday
morning, affecting the Highway 50 corridor. The forecast is on
track and no additional changes are anticipated this evening.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /Issued 213 PM PDT Wed Sep 20 2017/

SYNOPSIS...
Rain and mountain snow will move through northeast Nevada tonight
and Thursday. Snow will bring hazardous travel conditions to the
to the passes along I-80 and US-50. The weekend will feature cool
conditions with a warm up during the first half of next week.

DISCUSSION...
Low pressure and cold front remains on track with rain and snow
passing across much of northeast Nevada tonight and Thursday. This
will impact travel over the passed on I-80 and US-50, especially
above 7000 feet. Details on the snow accumulation forecast can be
found in the latest Winter Weather Statement.

Behind the cold front, rain/snow/snow pellet showers will persist
Thursday Night and Friday due to a cold and unstable air mass.
Snow levels could fall as low as 5500-6000 feet which may allow a
light dusting of snow to accumulate near 6000 feet.

For the weekend, low pressure will remain over eastern Great
Basin leaving much of northeast Nevada under a cool northerly
flow. A few very light showers may linger along the NV-UT border
until the low finally tracks east Sunday afternoon.

Warming trend may be delayed until Tuesday-Wednesday, with latest
simulations a bit slower to rebuild the ridge over the Great
Basin.

AVIATION...
Cold front will bring periods of rain and mountain snow to the
region. Expect mountain wave turbulence to continue ahead of the
front, with some brief LLWS possible as the front passes. Rain and
snow will lead to MVFR/IFR conditions and mountain obscurement
tonight and Thursday. MVFR conditions will linger into early
Friday for White Pine County. Light showers may continue through
Friday afternoon, but no prolonged periods of mvfr conditions are
forecast.

&&

.LKN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory until 11 PM PDT Thursday for Northern
Elko County-Northern Lander County and Northern Eureka County-
Ruby Mountains/East Humboldt Range-South Central Elko County-
Southeastern Elko County-Southern Lander County and Southern
Eureka County-Southwestern Elko County-White Pine County.

&&

99/99

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Ruby Mountains/E Humboldt Range

When: September 21, 1:00 AM PST to 4:00 PM PST
Where: Ruby Mountains/E Humboldt Range forecast zone
Reported by: SNOTEL
Coordinates: 40.294, -115.130 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, White Pine

When: September 21, 9:00 AM PST to 7:00 PM PST
Where: White Pine forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 39.442, -114.902 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Nevada in 2017 Every state in 2017 This day in weather history Warnings in Nevada, September 2017

Sources

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: 718509, 718507.