A relatively fast moving shortwave trough dug south over the northeastern Pacific the 9th and progressed across the Sierra Nevada the 10th through the 12th. This weather system brought high winds and light snow to the Sierra Nevada and parts of western Nevada.
Every event with a place to put it; 13 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.
A relatively fast moving shortwave trough dug south over the northeastern Pacific the 9th and progressed across the Sierra Nevada the 10th through the 12th. This weather system brought high winds and light snow to the Sierra Nevada and parts of 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 Apr 10, 1:31 AM PST, 10 hours 9 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
231 AM PDT Tue Apr 10 2018
.SYNOPSIS...
A couple of fast-moving systems will produce gusty winds and
lighter amounts of rain and snow at times today through Thursday.
Much colder temperatures are expected Thursday, then dry weather
with a warming trend returns for the weekend. Another storm system
may bring cooler and wetter conditions early next week.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
The only noticeable changes to the forecast today were to
increase QPF a bit for the Wednesday time frame and bump winds up
slightly for both late this afternoon and Wednesday afternoon.
The first system today still looks rather moisture starved with
only about a tenth of an inch of precipitation in northeast
California and the northern Sierra...and even less elsewhere. Snow
levels remain largely above 7500-8500 feet so snow amounts will be
very limited even in the highest elevations.
The main story remains gusty winds across the region. Wind
Advisories remain in place for all areas except Tahoe; there's a
Lake Wind Advisory there. The latest guidance is a little stronger
with today's winds. The jet has increased to about 120 kt while
H700 winds are in the 45-60 kt range. Ridge top gusts could reach
90-100 mph today while gusts in the valleys east of the Sierra and
east of Susanville in Lassen County may top 55 mph at times.
After a break tonight we will see the next weather maker approach
the region Wednesday. The initial push of moisture could bring
some light rain to northeast California late in the morning...but
the main area of precipitation will really start to affect the
region Wednesday afternoon.
Gusty winds will be a primary impactor with this system as
well. Both the pressure and thermal gradients tighten Wednesday
ahead of the cold front and upper level trough while a 140+ kt jet
oriented from southwest to northeast moves into the region in the
afternoon. There are some weak downslope signals with this system...
so that may enhance gusts east of the Sierra. Winds into the
basin and range country could be stronger Wednesday than today.
Overall...surface gusts in the valleys could reach 50-60 mph in a
slightly larger swath Wednesday...especially along and south of
I-80.
The system for Wednesday is also bringing in colder air a little
faster...so snow levels fall a little quicker Wednesday evening.
With the slight increase in QPF...this means a chance for higher
snow amounts from western Lassen County south into the Sierra.
Near the Sierra Crest up to 14 inches of snow is possible through
Wednesday night. At Lake Tahoe from 3-6 inches is possible while
Mammoth Lakes sees from 3-6 inches as well. We will hold off
issuing any advisories at this time and let subsequent shifts take
a look at snow accumulations...but an advisory above 7000 feet is
possible...mainly for the Tahoe area.
In the lower valleys of western Nevada...snow showers or a mix of
rain and snow is possible by Thursday morning...but accumulations
will likely be confined to above 5000 feet.
Showers linger into Thursday with high temperatures in the 30s in
the Sierra valleys and 40s in the lower valleys. Combined with
gusty west-northwest winds of 25-35 mph...this will make Thursday
feel quite cold for early to mid April.
.LONG TERM...Friday into next week...
The overall ideas remain the same this morning with the focus on
the system late Sunday through Tuesday. The main changes were to
increase precip chances Sunday night into Monday night and to cool
temperatures Monday and Tuesday.
The long term starts off benign under a short wave ridge.
Temperatures will be in a warming trend Friday into Saturday with
highs 5 degrees below average Friday rising to 5 degrees above
Saturday. Winds are expected to remain light under the ridge.
GFS is now much more in line with the EC, but it still a little
bit faster moving it through. The good news is the EC and its
ensemble remain very consistent and in good agreement from 24
hours ago raising confidence. Another strong spring front is
expected with gusty winds Sunday followed by rain/snow showers in
the valleys and snow in the mountains. Snow levels may start
higher at near 6000-6500 feet, but will drop to all valley floors
by late Monday morning. Decent accumulations are possible in the
mountains, but given the time of year anything on the valley
floors will remain spotty at best. The brunt of the precip still
looks to be focused near and south of I-80.
It will be much colder Monday and into Tuesday with highs 10-15
degrees below average. Monday especially will seem quite chilly
with more cloud cover and brisk W-NW winds.
Looking ahead, another system looks poised to affect the area for
Thursday with more rain/snow showers. Winds do not look to be as
strong, but whatever the character, the pattern will remain active
for at least the next 10 days. X
&&
.AVIATION...
Main concern is wind the next 36 hours. Winds increase with gusts
to 40 kts at area terminals from the SW after 21Z through 06Z
tonight then again 18-03Z Wed. Some LLWS is expected, strongest
during the morning and overnight hours. During the day, better
mixing will lessen the LLWS threat, but mtn wave turbulence will
continue through at least Wednesday evening.
Precip will be light with the first event today and only local
MVFR CIGS are expected north of KSVE 22-03Z. The better chance is
Wed night with low snow levels. IFR CIGS/VIS in the Sierra from
03-09Z due to -SN. Some runway accumulation expected, around 3-4
inches KTRK/KTVL and 1-2 inches KMMH. For the lower elevation
desert terminals, a brief period of MVFR CIGS/VIS in -RA/SN is
possible during this time, but no runway accumulations. Confidence
is moderate to high for snowfall. X
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Wind Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 11 PM PDT this evening
NVZ005.
Wind Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to 11 PM PDT Wednesday
NVZ001.
Lake Wind Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 5 AM PDT Thursday
for Lake Tahoe in NVZ002.
Wind Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 11 PM PDT Wednesday
NVZ003-004.
CA...Wind Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 11 PM PDT Wednesday
CAZ071.
Wind Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 11 PM PDT this evening
CAZ070.
Wind Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to 11 PM PDT Wednesday
CAZ073.
Lake Wind Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 5 AM PDT Thursday
for Lake Tahoe in CAZ072.
&&
For more information from the National Weather Service visit...
http://weather.gov/renoThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
13 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Slide Mountain Mesonet (elevation 9650 feet) reported a wind gust of 98 mph.
Mesonet PVPN2 Peavine Peak (elevation 8260 feet) reported a wind gust of 87 mph with a sustained wind speed of 49 mph.
Nevada Department of Transportation mesonet CLDNV US-395 Cold Springs (elevation 5043 feet) reported a wind gust of 79 mph with a sustained wind speed of 42 mph.
Mesonet station LVYN2, 4 miles east of Incline Village (elevation 6310 feet) reported a wind gust of 61 mph.
Mesonet station KSPZ, 2 miles west-southwest of Silver Springs (elevation 4269 feet) reported a wind gust of 58 mph.
Mesonet station GALN2, 4 miles north-northwest of Washoe City (elevation 5050 feet) reported a wind gust of 59 mph.
Nevada Department of Transportation mesonet WLKNV (elevation 4107 feet) reported a wind gust of 74 mph. Workers from the Nevada Department of Transportation also confirmed that two semi-trucks had blown over along US 95 north of Hawthorne.
Slide Mountain Mesonet (elevation 9650 feet) reported a wind gust of 84 mph.
Mesonet PVPN2 Peavine Peak (elevation 8260 feet) reported a wind gust of 81 mph.
Radiosonde Surface Observing Instrumentation System at NWS Reno (elevation 4987 feet) reported a wind gust of 64 mph.
Mesonet atop Virginia Peak (elevation 8299 feet) measured an 82 mph wind gust.
AWOS RTS, 2 miles north of Stead (elevation 5050 feet) reported a wind gust of 63 mph.
Mesonet station BRPN2, 10 miles northeast of Gerlach (elevation 3911 feet) reported a wind gust of 60 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, 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: 754655, 754666, 754664, 754490, 754654, 754653, 754667, 754677, 754675, 754673, 754676, 754672, 754668.