A deep, cold low pressure system and associated cold front brought high winds to portions of the 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.
A deep, cold low pressure system and associated cold front brought high winds to portions of the 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 Feb 18, 2:35 PM PST, 5 hours 59 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 235 PM PST Sun Feb 18 2018 .SYNOPSIS...A potent weather system will bring strong winds through Monday. Much colder temperatures can be expected by Monday, while snow showers are possible tonight and Monday mainly across eastern Lincoln and northern Mohave Counties. Winds will decrease by Tuesday, with chilly temperatures in place across the region through mid-week. && .SHORT TERM...through Monday night. Winds have been picking up across the area today as expected. Main change to the forecast today was to change the timing of the strongest winds somewhat. New high resolution models and MOS guidance agree on the peak winds occurring this evening in the Sierra and Owens Valley, this evening and tonight in the Spring Mountains and Las Vegas Valley, and persisting overnight into Monday in areas southwest of Las Vegas. Much colder air still expected Monday in the wake of the cold front, with highs 15 to 30 degrees colder than today. Precip chances will begin this evening in the Sierra and northern Lincoln County, spread to much of Lincoln and Mohave Counties as well as the Clark County mountains Monday, then end from the west Monday night as the trough axis reaches the Nevada/Utah border. .LONG TERM...Tuesday through Sunday. An extended period of unsettled weather conditions is in store for the region through the weekend and probably beyond. Persistent high pressure over the eastern Pacific will leave the door open for system after system diving out of the Gulf of Alaska and across the western U.S. After we shake the residual effects of the Sunday/Monday system, a weak weather disturbance passes to our south Tuesday night followed closely on its heels by at least 3 more systems between Wednesday and Sunday. Looking further out, models forecast at least one more potent storm to begin the next work week. Timing of any wave and its potential impacts will be difficult at best in this progressive pattern but overall it is likely safe to say we will see periods of stronger winds, reinforcing shots of cold air, occasional cloud cover and elevated chances for precipitation. && .AVIATION...For McCarran...Strong south to southwest winds will continue overnight, with gusts around 40 knots expected overnight into Monday morning. A slug of low clouds could also bring ceilings down to near 050 for a few hours in the early morning before scattering out. Winds will gradually veer around to westerly Monday, with gusts decreasing to 25-30 knots. Winds will veer to northerly on Tuesday with speeds decreasing further. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...Very strong west to southwest winds are expected this afternoon and evening, especially just east of the Sierra and Spring Mountains, with associated rotors and extreme turbulence. A cold front will pass through the southern Great Basin this evening and slowly make its way through the Mojave Desert Monday, with winds turning northerly and decreasing in speed behind the front. Snow and low elevation rain are expected in the higher terrain of the southern Great Basin, as well as the Clark County mountains and much of Mohave County tonight through Monday night, with associated terrain obscuration. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Strong winds are expected today through Monday. Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && SHORT TERM/AVIATION...Morgan LONG TERM...Salmen 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.
1 high wind, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The peak gust was measured 1 mile ESE of Red Rock Canyon.
Five power poles were blown down in the Henderson area, and a total of 2750 customers lost power in multiple areas of the Valley. Winds were estimated at 50-60 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, February 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: 738896, 738897.