A slow moving upper level low dug into the western CONUS the 13th and moved inland over northern California and Nevada by the 17th. Shortwaves embedded in this low initially brought rain and high elevation snow to the Sierra Nevada and western Nevada.
Every event with a place to put it; 26 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 slow moving upper level low dug into the western CONUS the 13th and moved inland over northern California and Nevada by the 17th. Shortwaves embedded in this low initially brought rain and high elevation snow to the Sierra Nevada and western Nevada. Colder air beneath the upper low allowed snow levels to fall, bringing widespread snow to the Sierra and western Nevada by the 16th.
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 Mar 13, 2:35 AM PST, 7 hours 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
335 AM PDT Tue Mar 13 2018
.SYNOPSIS...
A series of winter storms will produce unsettled conditions through
the upcoming week. The first storm will bring gusty winds, rain
and snow this afternoon into Wednesday. A colder storm is
becoming more likely from Thursday into Saturday, producing
additional periods of heavy snow in the Sierra with some snow
accumulation also possible for lower elevations.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
Bottom line up front...Significant weather will hamper area travel
from today into the weekend, especially in and around the Sierra.
A strong storm is moving into the region today and will impact
the region through the remainder of the week into the weekend.
Changes primarily concerned increasing precipitation chances
east of the Sierra while raising precipitation totals. The largest
increases in precipitation where more directed into the Basin and
Range where instability is projected to rapidly increase this
afternoon resulting in swaths of moderate showers embedded in
areas of light rain.
Snow levels...starting rather high due to strong southerly flow
ahead of the initial cold front. Cold air aloft moves in this
afternoon resulting in snow levels falling to Sierra Valley
surfaces by early evening. Snow levels continue to fall overnight
tonight towards western Nevada valley floors by mid-morning. The
cold-core of the low settles over the Sierra and western Nevada by
Wednesday
Precipitation...After rain for much of the morning, snow begins
to accumulate in the higher terrain late this morning and down to
pass levels by early afternoon. Accumulations for Lake Tahoe level
will hold off largely until the late afternoon and may initially
be slow to accumulate due to preceding rain. The heaviest period
of accumulation will begin this evening into the overnight hours
resulting in slick conditions, low visibility, and general
difficult travel conditions in and around the Sierra. Totals were
increased around Lake Tahoe with 4 to 8 inches now being projected
through Wednesday afternoon. Heaviest accumulations remain west
of Highway 89, around 1 foot, and above 7000ft to the Sierra
crest, up to 2 feet.
Snow accumulations for western Nevada should hold off until
Wednesday morning and may impact the morning commute; this is
especially true for areas above 5000 feet along the Sierra Front
and around Virginia City. Up to couple inches are most likely
above 5000 feet, but up to 4 inches is possible. Preceding
rainfall will likely limit accumulations along valley floors, but
some slush and slick conditions cannot be ruled out. The best
advice is to expect slick roadways and plan for additional time to
travel.
Snow will continue to accumulate in the Sierra and portions of
western Nevada Wednesday night into Thursday, but rates will
taper down significantly.
Winds...A Wind Advisory has been issued for northern Washoe County
and for the Surprise Valley today. Southerly flow is likely to
channel through valleys with gusts up to 55 mph.
Thunderstorms...Instability rapidly increases this afternoon as
the cold-core approaches. Lapse rates steepen and will drive the
potential for isolated convection north of Interstate 80. Another
round of convection is possible Wednesday afternoon as the cold-
core settles over the Sierra and western Nevada. Again, "best"
instability will remain north of Interstate 80.
.LONG TERM...Thursday through Monday...
Confidence in a significant storm system continues to climb for the
Thursday night through Friday night time frame. Operational models
are in good agreement and have shifted to slightly cooler solutions.
This makes snow levels lower and creates a better chance for
accumulating snow in the valleys as well as the higher elevations.
We refined the POPs and QPF a bit for the Thursday through early
Saturday time frame. The latest model solutions support less of a
chance for significant snowfall in the mountains through most of the
day Thursday...but better chances Thursday night into late Friday
night. This includes better spill over potential into western Nevada
for late Thursday night as instability associated with the upper low
increases. This instability is evident in northeast California
earlier Thursday so slight of thunder was added there and far
northern Nevada.
The best time period for precipitation in the mountains extends from
Thursday evening into early Saturday morning while the primary time
for spill over precipitation into areas east of the Sierra looks to
be from about 3 am to around 11 am Friday. This also coincides with
snow levels at the valley floors...increasing chances for snow
accumulation. One note of caution: in mid-March we start to see some
difficulty receiving accumulating snow during the afternoon in areas
generally below 5000 feet due to warming. This will reduce the
overall amount of snow accumulation in the valleys.
The amount of snow currently forecast for eastern California and far
western Nevada...along with the increasing confidence in its
occurrence...has prompted us to issue a watch for most of northeast
California and the Sierra...and the far western part of Nevada...
from Thursday evening through Saturday morning. Any upgrades or
changes to this watch will be handled by subsequent shifts and total
accumulations will be further refined as we get closer to this event.
Models are in better agreement for Saturday as well. The low opens
to a trough and showers linger through the day. There could be
accumulations in the Sierra...but little additional accumulations in
the valleys.
Sunday looks drier...but we should still see lingering showers.
Monday is starting to look like a mainly dry day as a short wave
ridge tries to develop over the region.
Beyond the forecast period there are hints at a return to an active
pattern...but the operational models show little agreement in the
evolution of this pattern.
&&
.AVIATION...
Precipitation is moving into the Sierra this morning primarily as
rain. Expect snow levels to fall below Sierra terminal elevations
after 20Z with heavy snow accumulations expected in and around
the Tahoe Basin. It will take longer for snow levels to fall for
western Nevada terminals...more toward Wednesday morning.
Accumulations for western Nevada are expected to be light, if any,
through Wednesday afternoon due to warm ground surfaces and
preceding rainfall.
Winds will increase today with area gusts from 30 to 40 kts.
Anticipate LLWS for area terminals today. KRNO tends to have
higher incidence of LLWS with southerly flow, and aircraft should
expect a turbulent approach or departure. Speed shear will be the
issue early this morning as winds increase aloft prior to valley
mixing. Then...gust spread will be more problematic due to
channeling effects from terrain south of the KRNO terminal.
Elsewhere, crosswinds will be more of a concern for KMMH with
stronger turbulence for Sierra terminals.
A few isolated thunderstorms will be possible today and Wednesday
mainly north of Interstate 80; primarily a concern for northerly
approaches to RNO and easterly flight paths to Elko or Salt Lake
City.
Significant weather is expected to continue through the rest of
the week into the weekend. Heavy snow accumulations will be
possible for Sierra terminals with lighter accumulations for the
Sierra Front. Winds will also be problematic as several waves of
activity are expected. Boyd
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Winter Storm Watch from Thursday afternoon through late Friday
night NVZ002-003.
Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 7 PM PDT this evening
NVZ005.
Winter Storm Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 11 AM PDT
Wednesday NVZ002.
Lake Wind Advisory from noon today to 7 PM PDT this evening for
Pyramid Lake in NVZ004.
CA...Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 11 AM PDT
Wednesday CAZ071.
Winter Storm Watch from Thursday afternoon through late Friday
night CAZ071>073.
Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 7 PM PDT this evening
CAZ070.
Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 11 AM PDT
Wednesday CAZ073.
Winter Storm Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 11 AM PDT
Wednesday CAZ072.
&&
For more information from the National Weather Service visit...
http://weather.gov/renoThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
25 heavy snow, 1 heavy rain, 1 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Mesonet station DRNNV, 2 miles south-southwest of Sun Valley reported 0.93 inches of rain from 13 March 1300PST to 14 March 0600PST.
Public reported that visibility reduced a half mile near Yerington due to blowing dust.
CoCoRaHS observer 8.4 miles south-southeast of Reno measured a storm total snowfall of 14.0 inches from 15 March 0600PST to 17 March 0600PST.
The Reno-Tahoe International Airport Official Weather Observer measured 10.3 inches of heavy snow from 15 March 0746PST to 16 March 0746PST. Water equivalent of 0.62 inches.
Mount Rose Ski Resort reported 30.0 inches of heavy snow from 15 March 0828PST to 16 March 0828PST at an elevation of 8260 feet.
The Official Weather Observer at Reno-Tahoe International Airport measured 11.2 inches of storm total snowfall since 15 March 1038PST.
NWS Reno Official Observation measured 14.2 inches of storm total snowfall since 15 March 1044PST.
CO-OP observer in Virginia City measured 22.0 inches of storm total snowfall since 15 March 1059PST.
Trained weather spotter 1 mile northeast of Carson City measured a storm total snowfall of 15.5 inches since 15 March 1109PST.
CO-OP observer in Cold Springs Valley measured 11.7 inches of heavy snow from 15 March 1229PST to 16 March 1229PST. Water equivalent 0.91 inches.
Trained weather spotter 1 mile northeast of Incline Village measured 28.0 inches of heavy snow from 15 March 1233PST to 16 March 1233PST at an elevation of 6700 feet.
Trained weather spotter 3 miles south-southeast of Stead measured 14.0 inches of heavy snow from 15 March 1237PST to 16 March 1237PST.
CO-OP observer at Dagget Pass measured 19.0 inches of heavy snow from 15 March 1239PST to 16 March 1239PST. Water equivalent of 0.80 inches.
CO-OP observer in Virginia City reported 18.0 inches of heavy snow from 15 March 1242PST to 16 March 1242PST at an elevation of 6340 feet.
NWS Reno Office measured 14.2 inches of heavy snow from 15 March 1246PST to 16 March 1246PST. Water equivalent of 0.66 inches.
Trained weather spotter 1 mile northeast of Carson City reported 15.5 inches of snowfall from 15 March 1500PST to 16 March 1500PST. 13.0 inches of snow fell between 1500PST 15 March and 0600PST 16 March. 2.5 inches of snow fell between 0600PST and 1500PST 16 March.
Trained weather spotter 3 miles west-southwest of Gardnerville Ranchos reported 13.0 inches of snowfall from 15 March 1531PST to 16 March 1531PST. Ten inches of snow fell between 15 March 1500PST and 16 March 0830PST.
Public located 2 miles south-southwest of New Washoe City reported 5.0 inches of snowfall from 1640PST to 2140PST 15 March.
Trained weather spotter 1 mile north-northeast of Carson City measured 13.0 inches of heavy snow from 15 March 1842PST to 16 March 0642PST.
Trained weather spotter in Caughlin Ranch measured 11.5 inches of heavy snow from 15 March 1847PST to 16 March 0647PST.
Trained weather spotter 1 mile south of New Washoe City measured 12.0 inches of heavy snow from 15 March 1911PST to 16 March 0711PST.
Trained weather spotter 4 miles northeast of Fort Churchill Station measured 8.0 inches of snow from 15 March 1914PST to 16 March 0714PST.
Trained weather spotter 3 miles east of Verdi measured 12.7 inches of heavy snow from 15 March 1918PST to 16 March 0718PST.
Trained weather spotter 2 miles south-southeast of Spanish Springs measured 10.0 inches of heavy snow from 15 March 1919PST to 16 March 0719PST.
NWS Reno Employee 2 miles west-northwest of Reno measured 11.0 inches of heavy snow from 15 March 1937PST to 16 March 0737PST.
Observer 1 mile north-northeast of Spanish Springs reported 11.0 inches of heavy snow from 15 March 2014PST to 16 March 0814PST. Water equivalent of 0.92 inches.
Trained weather spotter 2 miles north-northeast of Sparks measured 14.0 inches of heavy snow from 15 March 2016PST to 16 March 0816PST.
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, March 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: 747660, 748449, 748838, 748584, 748681, 748842, 748845, 748844, 748841, 748664, 748680, 748668, 748674, 748673, 748651, 748684, 748683, 748582, 748666, 748645, 748648, 748583, 748653, 748586, 748638, 748643, 748669.