A closed upper level low situated across northern Nevada produced isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms on May 11th, 2018. The showers and thunderstorms produced two separate tornadoes.
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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 LKN wrote it up.
A closed upper level low situated across northern Nevada produced isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms on May 11th, 2018. The showers and thunderstorms produced two separate tornadoes. The first tornado occurred south of Interstate 80 near Golconda in an open field. The second tornado touched down north of Golconda off U.S. Highway 95 and crossed a dirt road. No damage was observed.
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 May 11, 7:39 AM PST, 2 hours 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Elko NV 839 AM PDT Fri May 11 2018 .SYNOPSIS...In the wake of a strong cold front, a potent upper- level low pressure system will move into Nevada today and then sit and spin over the region through the weekend into Monday. Expect much cooler temperatures today and Saturday with rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms developing, as well as mountain snows that could briefly lower into some of the higher valleys and passes later tonight and Saturday morning. && .UPDATE...A band of heavier showers are moving across northern and central Nevada this morning, causing the snow levels to drop about 500-1000 feet lower than previously forecast. Have updated the near term period to include a rain and snow shower mix across the Lander and Eureka counties north, to include I-80. All other elements remain the same. Could see some light accumulations around the 5500 foot mark. All grids have been sent as has the text products. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED AT 247 AM / SHORT TERM...Today through Sunday. An active and unsettled weather pattern will follow the passage of a strong cold front as a potent upper-level low pressure system settles into Nevada today and lingers across the region over the weekend into Monday. Model continuity and forecast confidence remains high for this event though where the heaviest precipitation areas occur is less certain given varying moisture distributions by the models and wobbly track of upper low. Today and tonight. In the wake of a strong cold front daytime temperatures will be 20 to as much as 30 degrees colder than what they were through the middle of this week. A potent upper low will drop down into Nevada from Oregon and Idaho this afternoon and evening with the center of circulation setting up mainly over Elko County, though the EC model does briefly dip it down into White Pine County while the NAM takes it farther southwest into Nye County before all models have it pivot back up around the junction of NV/UT later Saturday, and from southwest Idaho back over Elko County on Sunday. Rain showers will become more numerous as system takes hold today and tonight while pockets of weak instability should only yield a small chance of isolated thunder at best. Highs today will generally be in the 50s with a few lower 70s down in Nye County. Snow levels will lower tonight into Saturday morning to between 6500 and 6000 feet which could produce a brief period of slushy snow in some of the higher valleys and passes. Otherwise, the high elevations/peaks in the mountains of northern and central parts of the state could receive several inches to well over a foot of snow through the weekend. Lows tonight should generally remain just above freezing in the mid 30s. A WIND ADVISORY has been issued for northwestern Nye County for this Friday afternoon and evening as northwest to north winds behind the cold front and in the tighter gradient away from the low center will produce a period of sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts of 45 up to 60 mph possible with areas of blowing dust. Saturday & Sunday. Plenty of moisture will remain within the widespread circulation of the cut-off low which will continue to produce scattered to numerous rain showers. Weak daytime instability will exist with cold pool overhead along with low level convergence associated with cyclonic curvature and weak disturbances rotating around low so isolated thunderstorms will be possible Saturday and Sunday. Conditions could also be favorable for a few cold air funnel clouds to form. Highs on Saturday will generally be confined to the mid 40s to mid 50s; lows Saturday night in the 30s above freezing; and highs Sunday in the 50s to lower 60s. LONG TERM...Saturday night through next Thursday. All models continue to show an upper level system sitting atop northern Nevada through the mid-week portion next week. This will result in below normal temperatures over much of the area along with daily occurrences of showers and thunderstorms, along with the possibility of high level snow showers. Highs will be in the upper 50s to low 60s on Sunday with slow increases in high temperatures to the upper 60s to low 70s by mid-week. Lows will be in the 30s and 40s through the same period. Winds will remain light. The system will exit the area Wednesday with a possible brief break late Wednesday and early Thursday but another system will be waiting in the wings Thursday to affect the area. Afternoon highs will be in the mid to upper 70s with lows in the 30s and 40s. AVIATION...Look for VFR conditions expected through the next 12-18 hours. After that time frame, a cold front will push through northeastern Nevada, bringing isolated -SHRA to the EKO and ELY terminals. Breezy to windy conditions are expected Friday with the strongest winds at KTPH during the afternoon and evening. BLDU is also possible but confidence is too low to put in the forecast at this time. && .LKN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 10 PM PDT this evening for Northwestern Nye County. && 86/99
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Elko NV 355 PM PDT Thu May 10 2018 NVZ030-031-033>041-112300- Humboldt County-Northern Elko County-Southeastern Elko County- Ruby Mountains/East Humboldt Range-White Pine County- Northern Lander County and Northern Eureka County- Southern Lander County and Southern Eureka County- Southwestern Elko County-South Central Elko County- Northwestern Nye County-Northeastern Nye County- 355 PM PDT Thu May 10 2018 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Nevada...north central Nevada...northeast Nevada...northwest Nevada and south central Nevada. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Evening thunderstorms and overnight rain showers will pop up over northeast Nevada, producing light amounts, but possibly gusty winds and some minor blowing dust. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. A moderately strong late spring storm system will impact the region starting Friday, with increasing chances for rain showers and thunderstorms through Saturday. Much colder air will invade the state Saturday, and snow levels will drop to around 6000 feet in northern Nevada, and to lower than 6500 feet in central and eastern Nevada. This will bring snow to the summits and passes, and possibly to many valley floors. Accumulations should be light in well traveled areas, but will still be a major change from the very warm and dry weather of late. Mountain tops could pick up nearly one foot of fresh snow. Some travel issues are possible so just be aware. Never take spring weather for granted in the Great Basin. After Sunday, the weather stays a bit stormy but warms up slowly. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are asked to report weather phenomena according to standard operating procedure. LW
The Elko radar (KLRX), 47 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 18:04 UTC.
2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
The spotter saw the funnel cloud touchdown, picking up debris from an open field. The estimated width of the tornado was approximately 25 yards. This occurred in a rural location - no damage.
A trained weather spotter saw a tornado briefly touchdown and move across a dirt road. No damage was reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Nevada, 2018Warnings in Nevada, May 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: 745874, 745875.