Nevada, 2019

Wildfire in Nevada, August 24 to 27, 2019

August 24 to 27, 2019 · NWS REV · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Warm temperatures, along with dry conditions, occurred the 23rd through the end of the month. Breezy conditions occurred on the 24th and 25th, but combined effects of winds and humidity did not reach critical fire weather criteria.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS REV wrote it up.

Warm temperatures, along with dry conditions, occurred the 23rd through the end of the month. Breezy conditions occurred on the 24th and 25th, but combined effects of winds and humidity did not reach critical fire weather criteria.

What forecasters said that day

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 Aug 24, 12:47 PM PST, 13 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 24, 12:47 PM PST, 13 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
147 PM PDT Sat Aug 24 2019

.SYNOPSIS...

Temperatures will be well above normal through much of the
upcoming week, with the warmest conditions most likely Tuesday
and Wednesday. Expect breezy afternoon and evening winds today and
Sunday, especially north of Highway 50. Dry conditions are
expected through Tuesday, then thunderstorm chances may return by
the middle of next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

The forecast is on track for wind gusts of 25-35 mph north of
Highway 50 this afternoon, with some sites already seeing gusts in
this range. These winds will persist late into the evening,
possibly past midnight for some sites. While these winds aren't
overly strong, they could impact recreation on area lakes,
especially Pyramid Lake, and fire weather concerns are elevated
this afternoon and evening.

Latest computer simulations have trended slightly stronger with
surface winds Sunday afternoon/evening, as a strong upper jet is
centered over Idaho and a moderate thermal gradient from northeast
CA to central NV persists as well. Expect the timing and
magnitude of wind gusts Sunday to be like today, with the same
impacts on fire weather conditions and on area lakes.

We are still keeping an eye on thunderstorm potential for next
week, mainly looking at Wednesday and Thursday as days to
possibly see some remnant moisture from tropical storm Ivo. JCM

&&

.AVIATION...

Widespread VFR conditions prevail with a few passing high clouds
and some flat afternoon cumulus over higher terrain though the
weekend. Afternoon westerly winds with gusts 20-25 kts can be
expected today and Sunday, strongest north of approximately US-50.
The peak of the wind speeds will be from approximately 22z-04z.
-Dawn/Jon

&&

.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...None.
CA...None.
&&

For more information from the National Weather Service visit...
http://weather.gov/reno

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Wildfire, Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area

When
August 24, 1:00 PM PST to August 27, 11:00 AM PST
Where
Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
39.511, -119.499 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Long Valley Fire started near the Red Rock exit along US Highway 395 and spread across the California/Nevada border into northwestern Nevada the 24th before being contained the 27th. The fire burned 2438 acres, and one structure was destroyed. The Federal Emergency Management Agency stated that the fire threatened 250-300 homes in and around Rancho Haven (Nevada). The fire also threatened five buildings, infrastructure, utilities, equipment, farms, ranches, and a watershed in the area. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for approximately 800 people before containment was reached. Firefighting costs were approximately $600K, according to the Nevada Bureau of Land Management.

What these are

Wildfire
A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Nevada in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, August 2019

Sources

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: 858236.