Heavy Snow in Nevada, February 18 to 19, 2018

Name: Heavy Snow in Nevada, February 18 to 19, 2018
Start: 2018-02-18T11:00
End: 2018-02-19T02:00
Location: Nevada

February 18 to 19, 2018 · NWS LKN · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A winter storm brought 8 to 16 inches of snow to the Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt Range.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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.

A winter storm brought 8 to 16 inches of snow to the Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt Range.

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 Feb 18, 3:22 AM PST, 7 hours 38 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 18, 3:22 AM PST, 7 hours 38 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Elko NV
322 AM PST Sun Feb 18 2018

.SYNOPSIS...A strong cold front will move into northern and
central Nevada today bringing snow, strong gusty winds, and much
colder temperatures.

&&

.SHORT TERM...Today through Tuesday. Strong cold front poised to
blast into northern Nevada this morning then work its way into
central NV this afternoon bringing snow, strong gusty winds, and
much colder temperatures. Snow showers will continue tonight and
Monday as cold upper trough settles in over the region. Generally
expecting 1 to 3 inches of snow in the valleys with locally higher
amounts. The mountains will see 5 to 10 inches with higher amounts
in favored locations. The cold front will bring strong gusty winds
today with southwest to west winds of 20 to 35 mph gusting up to
55 mph. Winds will begin to subside this evening. A few lingering
showers on Tuesday, mainly over the mountains of eastern NV. The
coldest temperatures of the season are expected Monday and Tuesday
with highs mostly in the 20s, and lows Tuesday morning ranging
from 5 below to 5 above zero at most locales.

.LONG TERM...Tuesday night through Saturday.
A broad long wave trough will dominate the extended period with
a cold air mass remaining situated over the Great Basin. Expect
cold readings Wednesday morning, although forecasting the lows is
a bit tricky as an approaching short wave will bring some cloud
cover. A short wave passes the state Wednesday afternoon, but
system will be moisture starved and not expecting much snowfall.
Although a dusting of snow is possible in the valleys with light
accumulations in the mountains. A stronger short wave digs toward
the Great Basin Thursday and will be over Nevada on Friday. While
moisture remains limited, upwards forcing brings a chance for some
accumulating snowfall to much of the area, including Tonopah. By
Saturday, another short wave digs toward the Great Basin. Appears
to be an active period this week with periodic snow showers and
below normal temperatures.

&&

.AVIATION...A band of snow showers is expected to accompany a
strong cold front today. Cold front is expected to reach WMC
around 12Z-15Z this morning and KEKO 15Z-18Z. Occasional snow
showers with visibility below 3 miles is expected. After the front
passes, expect gusty winds to 35 kts with snow showers in the
vicinity through tonight. Mountains will be frequently obscured
across northern Nevada.

KELY: Gusty winds to 35-40kts is expected after 15Z this morning
and will prevail through the day. Cold front arrives between
00Z-03Z this evening with snow showers in the vicinity tonight.

KTPH: Strong gusty winds in the 40-45kt range will develop after
18Z this morning and continue through the afternoon and tonight.

&&

.LKN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM PST Monday for Northern Elko
County.

Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 4 PM PST
Monday for Southeastern Elko County-Southern Lander County and
Southern Eureka County-White Pine County.

Wind Advisory from 7 AM this morning to 10 PM PST this evening
for Northeastern Nye County-Northwestern Nye County-Southeastern
Elko County-White Pine County.

Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM PST Monday for Northern
Lander County and Northern Eureka County-Ruby Mountains/East
Humboldt Range-South Central Elko County-Southwestern Elko
County.

&&

91/88/88

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 18, 7:02 AM PST, 3 hours 58 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKO NV
702 AM PST SUN FEB 18 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0545 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST PEQUOP SUMMIT NDOT      41.08N 114.57W
02/18/2018  M58 MPH          ELKO               NV   MESONET

            MESONET STATION PQRNV, PEQUOP SUMMIT NDOT.

&&

DS

Local storm report, Feb 18, 7:15 AM PST, 3 hours 45 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKO NV
715 AM PST SUN FEB 18 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST 2 NNE ELKO              40.86N 115.74W
02/18/2018  E58 MPH          ELKO               NV   CO-OP OBSERVER

            50 KNOT GUST MEASURED AT NWS OFFICE WITH A
            PASSING SHOWER OVERHEAD.

&&

DS

Local storm report, Feb 18, 7:47 AM PST, 3 hours 13 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ELKO NV
747 AM PST SUN FEB 18 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0711 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST MATHER RAWS             39.02N 114.27W
02/18/2018  M61 MPH          WHITE PINE         NV   MESONET

            MESONET STATION MTHN2, MATHER RAWS.

&&

DS

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Ruby Mountains/E Humboldt Range

When: February 18, 11:00 AM PST to February 19, 2:00 AM 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)

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 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in Nevada, February 2018

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: 733413.