An area of low pressure over the northeast Pacific on the 25th moved southeast, reaching northern California on the 26th. This system brought snow and gusty winds to western Nevada late the 25th into the 26th.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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.
An area of low pressure over the northeast Pacific on the 25th moved southeast, reaching northern California on the 26th. This system brought snow and gusty winds to western Nevada late the 25th into the 26th.
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 Feb 25, 10:50 PM PST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
1050 PM PST Sun Feb 25 2018
.UPDATE...
The start of snow over the far northern part of the forecast is
being delayed a bit further...and now the water vapor imagery is
showing a jet streak moving south down the back side of the long
wave trough. This may dig the trough a bit more to the south-
southwest and delay the passage of the surface cold front even
more. This would have implications for areas east of the Sierra:
highs for Monday could be a little warmer and thus snow levels
starting higher...and it could also lead to less QPF east of the
Sierra during the day.
For now we will only delay the start of the heaviest precipitation
Monday and leave the current advisories as is. But...there is a
possibility that accumulations will be lower than currently
forecast for areas along and south of the I-80 corridor east of
the Sierra Monday. Totals for northeast California...northwest
Nevada...and the Sierra still look reasonable.
&&
.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... /Issued 615 PM PST Sun Feb 25 2018/
UPDATE...
The most recent short range model guidance supports a slowing of
the start of precipitation over the far northern parts of the area
this evening. We are currently seeing very light snow flurries
around Lakeview...but nothing as far south as Alturas. This would
tend to confirm the latest guidance showing the snow beginning
later this evening for the Surprise Valley and Northern Washoe
County as the upper level jet support and low level frontogenesis
increases. Thus...we have pushed back the timing this evening and
overnight for the start of the snow north of a line from
Susanville to Gerlach to the 9 pm to midnight time frame. We also
delayed the start in the northern Sierra to more of a 2 am to 5
am time frame.
The heaviest snow still looks to be on track for the hours of 6 am
to 11 am for the northern Sierra and 8 am to 4 pm for the Sierra
Front. The heaviest snow will be at a later time farther south.
PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... /Issued 219 PM PST Sun Feb 25 2018/
SYNOPSIS...
Below average temperatures will prevail through the upcoming week.
The next storm system will bring a round of snow late tonight
through Monday, with slick roads likely for both the morning and
evening commutes. The active weather pattern continues this week
with a stronger winter storm likely Thursday and Friday. Snow
showers may continue into next weekend.
SHORT TERM...
Widespread light to moderate snow is expected tonight through
Monday night across eastern CA and western NV, likely producing
plenty of travel impacts for all elevations. In general, the snow
will begin tonight for northeast CA/northwest NV, then spread
south into the Tahoe region Monday morning and western NV mainly
north of Highway 50 during the day. By late Monday afternoon and
evening as the upper low center moves across central CA, a small
deformation zone producing enhanced snowfall potential sets up.
This is currently most likely for South Tahoe, Douglas, Alpine and
far northern Mono County. If this system trends slower as hinted
by some of the latest model guidance, this zone could set up a
little farther north. Lighter snow showers continue in Mono-Lyon-
Mineral counties late Monday night before ending Tuesday morning.
Further details and highlights for this storm are grouped below,
starting with the Winter Weather Advisory areas:
* Reno-Carson City-Minden vicinity (added to advisory): Overall
snowfall projections call for 1-4" with some locations receiving
around 6". The main concern is less for the AM commute
(although snow may begin in foothills west of Reno and US-395
roughly from Stead northward during the commute), but greater
for the PM commute due to potential for roads becoming icy near
and after sunset. The period of peak snowfall is most likely
from 10 AM to 4 PM around Reno-Sparks-Virginia City, and from 1
to 7 PM for Carson-Minden.
* Northeast CA/Northwest NV/Tahoe basin: The snowfall potential
remains largely unchanged. Peak snowfall period looks to be
between 2 and 8 AM from Susanville-Gerlach northward and 5 to 11
AM to the south. For the Tahoe region, snow should begin between
2 and 6 AM, with steady accumulating snow throughout the day
and into the early evening.
Although the following areas are not included in the advisory,
the Special Weather Statement will mention light snowfall and
associated impacts (including possible icy roads Monday evening).
* West Central Nevada/Mineral-Lyon counties: Most of the snow will
occur during the day north of Highway 50, with areas of light
snow possible into the evening mainly south of Highway 50.
Overall accumulations are projected in the 0-2" range, although
locally heavier snow amounts up to 5" are possible in higher
terrain and southern Lyon County.
* Mono County: Light snow begins around midday Monday near the
Sierra crest, with most of the snow expected between 5 and 11
PM Monday evening. Snowfall amounts generally 2-4" except
locally higher amounts up to 8" near the crest and north of
Bridgeport (due to possible enhancement under deformation zone).
Most of Tuesday and Wednesday should be dry, except for a few
snow showers in southern Mono-Mineral counties Tuesday morning and
near the Sierra and far northeast CA by Wednesday afternoon. Highs
will only reach the 30s Tuesday for most areas with some north to
northeast wind, and stronger gusts over Sierra ridges. By
Wednesday, temperatures should edge upward about 5-10 degrees. MJD
LONG TERM...
Focus is on the potential major snowstorm for the Sierra and
possibly Western Nevada. The models are in very good agreement
dropping a 520 DM 500 mb low off the Oregon Coast/Mouth of the
Columbia River. This is a climatologically favored heavy snow
pattern not just for the Sierra, but also the Western Nevada
Sierra Front. Ensembles also depict the upper low in the same
location with very little spread not only for the core, but also
the backside/south side jet. Very high confidence for a solid
storm, if not a major storm which is looking more and more
likely. The biggest question is where and how much snow falls into
Western Nevada.
Now it is looking like 3 distinct waves will move through. The
first is the main cold front Thursday. The others are Friday into
Friday night as the front stalls. The GFS is a little farther
north targeting the front stalling near the Highway 395 corridor
south of Susanville, while the EC makes the I-80/Highway 50
corridors ground zero. Where the front stalls will have the
heaviest snowfall in the Sierra and the lee side.
Snow levels will be near or below the valley floors for the event.
The one exception will be Thursday ahead of the front where they
could rise to 5000-5500 feet before crashing back down. At least
1-3 feet of snow look good for the Sierra with higher amounts
possible Thursday through Saturday. In the lower valleys to the
east, significant accumulations are likely where the front stalls
with lighter amounts elsewhere. X
AVIATION...
VFR conditions with generally light winds will continue through
early evening. As storm approaches the region, winds will trend
upward later tonight into Monday morning with surface gusts 25-35
kt, Sierra ridge gusts to 70-75 kt, mtn wave turbulence and
possible LLWS.
A band of snow is expected to move from north to south with
periods of IFR conditions and some runway snow accumulation.
Several inches are likely for the Tahoe terminals. For western NV
terminals, quick accumulations up to an inch or so are possible
in heavier snow bands, with melting likely during periods of
lighter snow. Brisk winds shifting from southwest to north are
expected with gusts 20-25 kt at the terminals in the afternoon,
except briefly stronger at the time of the cold front passage.
Stronger gusts around 30 kt are more likely Monday afternoon-
evening across west central NV.
By Monday night, the bulk of the snow shifts to areas south of
Highway 50 with IFR conditions and a few inches of accumulation
probable at KMMH, while elsewhere conditions will slowly improve
from north to south. MJD
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM PST Monday NVZ005.
Winter Weather Advisory from 4 AM to 10 PM PST Monday NVZ002.
Winter Weather Advisory from 6 AM to 10 PM PST Monday NVZ003.
CA...Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM PST Monday CAZ070-071.
Winter Weather Advisory from 4 AM to 10 PM PST Monday CAZ072.
&&
For more information from the National Weather Service visit...
http://weather.gov/renoThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 high wind, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Mount Rose Ski Area reported 14 to 18 inches of snowfall between 0000PST 26 February and 0000PST 27 February.
Mesonet station D3976, 7 miles north of Washoe City reported a wind gust of 61 mph.
Mesonet station GLCNV, 2 miles north-northeast of Washoe City reported a wind gust of 66 mph.
NWS WFO Reno automated observations reported a wind gust of 63 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: 743573, 743564, 743566, 743565.