Another in a series of potent Pacific storms brought high winds to the Owens Valley and Mojave Desert.
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.
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 VEF wrote it up.
Another in a series of potent Pacific storms brought high winds to the Owens Valley and Mojave Desert.
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 Las Vegas, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 11, 1:15 PM PST, 1 hour 27 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 215 PM PDT Wed Apr 11 2018 .SYNOPSIS...Widespread strong winds and blowing dust are expected through Thursday for much of the area as a wind storm impacts the region. These winds will precede a potent cold front which will bring sharply cooler temperatures to the region Thursday and Friday. Warming temperatures are expected over the weekend before another possible wind storm impacts the area early next week. && .SHORT TERM...Today through Friday. Little change was made to the forecast since the morning update. Winds have begun to increase across the region this afternoon and isolated gusts above 40 have been noted, with the highest gust of 57 MPH reported at Five Mile RAWS in the southern Owens Valley. Expect winds to continue to increase through the rest of the afternoon, with gusts mainly in the 35-55 MPH range. Many areas could experience a lull this evening before even stronger downslope winds begin to impact the area overnight. Currently the areas where we expect the high impacts overnight are: * The western & southern portions of the Las Vegas Valley and Red Rock Canyon. * The northeast slopes of the Spring Mountains including US-95 between Las Vegas and Indian Springs/Desert Rock. * Eastern Sierra slopes into the Owens Valley including US-395 between Ridgecrest and Bishop (especially around Owens Lake). * East slopes of the White Mountains into the Fish Lake Valley/Dyer areas. Light precipitation will be possible overnight into Thursday across the Sierra, White Mountains, and northern Lincoln County. However, significant rain/snow accumulations are not expected. A cold front will sweep south across the region Thursday, bringing sharply cooler temperatures and gusty winds in its wake. Current estimated timing of the cold front: * 0300-0600: Tonopah * 0600-0900: Bishop, Beatty, Death Valley, NNSS, Caliente * 0900-1200: Las Vegas, Lake Mead, Colorado City, Ft. Irwin * 1200-1500: Bullhead City, Kingman, Needles * 1500-1800: Barstow, Twentynine Palms, Lake Havasu City Forecast wind speeds behind the cold front are nudged toward the higher end of the latest guidance based on previous experience with systems like this. This was the primary driver for the earlier upgrade to High Wind Warnings for Esmeralda and Nye Counties as well as Death Valley and the White Mountains. In addition, the areal coverage of blowing dust was expanded this afternoon due to the potential for a significant plume of dust developing over central & southern NV behind the front. Winds should gradually weaken in the wake of the front Thursday and no change was made this afternoon with respect to the timing of the wind advisories and warnings. North winds will continue to impact the region through Friday, especially across southern Nevada and down the Colorado River Valley. Wind Advisories (or Lake Wind Advisories where applicable) may be needed, but appear borderline at this time. .LONG TERM...Saturday through Tuesday. The weekend looks much quieter with light winds and warming temperatures. Should be back above normal by Sunday as a ridge moves overhead. Attention then turns back to potential gusty winds Monday into Tuesday as another system swings through the area. Similar setup to the system we will be dealing with today into Thursday, though currently not as potent. Expect increasing winds on Monday with followed by a cool down on Tuesday. Will need to watch how details shake out with this wind event as we get closer to the beginning of next week. && .FIRE WEATHER...Widespread dry and gusty conditions are expected through Friday. These conditions will combine with dry fuels across Northwest Arizona and Colorado River Valley to produce a period of dangerous fire weather this afternoon into at least Thursday. Red Flag Warnings are in effect for fire weather zones 101, 102, 229, and 466 for that time period. Lingering north winds may keep fire danger elevated into Friday along the River as well. && .AVIATION...For McCarran...AIRPORT WEATHER WARNING FOR STRONG WINDS TONIGHT. Strong southwest winds and gusts will prevail through Thursday morning. Strongest winds will arrive after 06Z when southwest wind gusts over 40 knots are likely. Southwest gusts will peak between 08Z and 12Z tonight, with 50+ knots gusts possible. As winds shift to northwest Thursday morning, gusts will decrease to 30-40 knots and likely continue through Thursday afternoon with lowering gusts in the evening. High probability of blowing dust, visibility impacts, and turbulence. There will be brief periods of strong LLWS late tonight into early Thursday as downslope winds push into the valley. No operationally significant cloud cover expected. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...Southwest winds will continue to increase this evening. Strongest winds will develop overnight and down wind of terrain, especially the Sierra and Spring Mtns. Strong, near-surface turbulence is expected near terrain. Widespread speeds of 20-30 knots gusting 30-40 knots are expected. Localized Gusts of 45-55KTS will be possible tonight. A cold front will move south across the region Thursday; diminished winds and a north-northwest wind shift is expected with the front. The front will pass KBIH around 13z and at KEED by 22z Friday, with passage at other sites occuring between that period. Expect wind speeds between 25-45 knots with the cold front. No operationally significant cloud cover is forecast. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && SHORT TERM...Wolcott LONG TERM....Wolf AVIATION.....Boothe For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: http://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The peak gust occurred 5 miles NW of Independence. Highway 395 was closed to high profile vehicles after a few nearly blew over.
This gust occurred 5 miles NW of Independence.
These gusts occurred 3 miles NNW of Joshua Tree.
This gust occurred at the Barstow-Daggett Airport (KDAG).
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in California, April 2018
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: 739991, 739992, 739993, 739994.