A strong Pacific low pressure system brought windy conditions to much of the Mojave Desert. Isolated high winds occurred.
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.
A strong Pacific low pressure system brought windy conditions to much of the Mojave Desert. Isolated high winds occurred.
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 7, 2:00 PM PST, 36 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 300 PM PDT Sat Apr 7 2018 .SYNOPSIS...The area of low pressure that brought the gusty winds to the region will move east overnight leaving dry and slightly cooler conditions for Sunday. Gusty winds are still possible down the Colorado River Valley Sunday morning before diminishing in the afternoon. Periods of gusty winds are expected through the week, with another strong system expected Wednesday/Thursday. && .SHORT TERM...through Monday night. Shortwave trough moving through the region has brought gusty winds to the region, especially across western San Bernardino County where winds have gusted over 50 mph. There have been a few wind gusts over 40 mph in the Las Vegas Valley so far, but it looks like the peak time for strongest winds will occur between 4 to 7 PM. Radar showing a line of showers developing from southern Inyo through southern Nye and into Lincoln Counties. Most of these showers are pretty light, but there is enough instability to generate a few thunderstorms across mainly Lincoln County, but they are also possible over northern Clark and eastern Nye into this evening. Main impacts from any storms will be strong gusty winds. A cold front will gradually move through the region overnight with some gusty northwest winds behind the front. Strongest winds will be located mainly across Esmeralda and central Nye Counties where some gusts upwards of 40 mph will be possible. As this shortwave exits the area, winds will decrease and slightly cooler air will work into the region. Gusty winds will still remain down the Colorado River Valley into Sunday morning, but it looks like they will remain below advisory levels and will decrease by afternoon. Temperatures are expected to drop about 5-7 degrees. Much drier and slightly warmer conditions are on tap for Monday with temperatures rebounding about 3-6 degrees across the region. .LONG TERM...Tuesday through Saturday. By Tuesday, ridging overhead will begin to slide eastward as a fairly weak, fast-moving wave moves through the region. Impacts from this system have continued to trend downward and should be limited to breezy south-southwest winds and passing high clouds. Another more robust system comes into play WED-FRI. This system looks pretty impressive and has been trending stronger over the last few model runs. That being said, both the GFS and ECMWF are vastly different with the timing and evolution of this shortwave by Thursday afternoon. Though, these models have been consistent on bringing strong winds (at least advisory level) and much cooler temperatures to the area. Most notably, MOS guidance has sustained winds of 37-47 kts for LAS late WED-early THU. Limited moisture with this system should keep slight precipitation chances mainly limited to the northern half of our CWA. Behind the potent cold front associated with this system, expect gusty north winds and a 15-20 degree drop in temperatures from WED. && .AVIATION...For McCarran...Southwest winds will continue late this afternoon with gusts 35-45 KTS at times. A shower or thunderstorm cannot be ruled out this afternoon over the mountains surrounding the valley. Winds will slack some after sunset but will continue to gust to around 30kts through around midnight. Winds will turn more north by Monday morning and could be breezy, but only to about 20kts. Diurnal winds should return by monday afternoon with lighter winds. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...Southwest winds will continue through the afternoon, with gusts generally between 30-45 KTS. Rain and high elevation snow should be done in the Sierra, but isolated showers/thunderstorms are still possible across southeast Nevada and northwest Arizona. A cold front will push across the region this evening, with periods of breezy north winds in its wake. Winds will favor diurnal trends or a northerly direction on Monday. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && SHORT TERM............Gorelow LONG TERM.............Kryston AVIATION..............Wolf 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.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
This gust occurred at Indian Springs (KINS).
This gust occurred at Mountain Springs.
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: 739078, 739079.