An unseasonably deep low pressure area sat over the West Coast for days, with individual storm systems rotating through it. This brought periods of high winds and a few thunderstorms to the Owens Valley and 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.
An unseasonably deep low pressure area sat over the West Coast for days, with individual storm systems rotating through it. This brought periods of high winds and a few thunderstorms to the Owens Valley and 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 May 19, 9:20 AM PST, 4 hours 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 1020 AM PDT Sun May 19 2019 .SYNOPSIS...A series of cold low pressure systems dropping out of the Pacific Northwest will produce periods of gusty winds and chances for showers over the region through at least the middle of the coming week. High temperatures today through Wednesday will average 15 to 20 degrees below normal. The weather pattern is expected to remain cool and unsettled going into next weekend. && .UPDATE...The incoming upper low was centered near San Francisco this morning and the showers associated with the leading band of moisture have largely pushed into northwest Arizona. A large dry slot will be over most of southeast California and southern Nevada through the day with gusty southwest winds over 40 mph the main concern. Showers and isolated thunderstorms will be confined in an arc extending from the Southern Sierra across central Nevada to northwest Arizona. The PoP/Wx grids were touched up slightly through late this afternoon to reflect the latest observations and Hi Res models. The rest of the forecast trends detailed in the previous discussion look are on track. -Adair && .PREV DISCUSSION... 329 AM PDT Sun May 19 2019 .DISCUSSION...through next Saturday. Since arriving on shift conditions across the southern Great Basin and Mojave Desert have been deteriorating as abnormally deep, cold trough pushes into the region. Seen a .10"-0.33" of rain in Rainbow Canyon and Harris Springs so far. Mountain wave breaking in the lee of the Spring Mtns have led to localized wind gusts around 45 mph at Indian Springs and within parts of the Las Vegas Valley. CHANGES TODAY: With localized advisory levels winds being reached already. Decided to start the wind advisory with the issuance of the morning package. NEW Wind Advisory segment for the Owens Valley due to potential of downslope winds between Big Pine and the Kern County line today. NEW Winter Weather Advisory segment in Lincoln County above 7000 feet. Mountains above 7000 feet could pick up 5-10 inches of new snow. Little change beyond today and tonight. Models continue to indicate a persistent trough across the Western States through the entire upcoming week. This will maintain our current weather regime of cool temps, windy periods and chances for showers and thunderstorms. && .AVIATION...For McCarran...Southwest winds gusting to around 35 knots will continue into this evening. Winds are forecast to decrease after midnight tonight. CIGS around 8 - 10 Kft and areas of showers after 10z through mid morning. Significant mountain wave activity. CIGS scattering out after 16z when the strongest winds are expected to begin. Showers and isolated thundershowers are more likely to impact the Beatty, Mormon Mesa, and Peach Springs corridors. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...Strong southwest winds today with the highest speeds expected along a corridor from KDAG-KLAS-KSGU. Increasing clouds and possible shower/thunderstorm activity generally north of a KNID - KLAS line with ceilings likely dropping below VFR for periods of time at KBIH. Expect low-level turbulence, strong surface winds, low- level wind shear, and mountain wave hazards into this evening. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Unseasonably cool and unsettled weather continues into the coming week with bouts of gusty winds and precipitation chances. Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time, however, spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts such as wind damage. && DISCUSSION...Pierce AVIATION.....Salmen For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: http://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter
The Edwards AFB radar (KEYX), 129 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:27 UTC.
2 high wind, 1 dust storm, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
The peak gust was measured 4 miles NW of Independence. Four big rigs were blown over on Highway 395.
The peak gust was measured at the Barstow Daggett (KDAG) ASOS. Two trees were blown over in Barstow, one of which blocked a road.
Dust storm conditions reduced visibility to less than a tenth of a mile in the Lenwood area.
Highway 190 was flooded and closed at mile marker 32.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in California, May 2019
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: 814721, 814722, 814723, 814728.