A trough of low pressure along the West Coast moved inland late on the 21st bringing gusty winds through the 22nd and high elevation snowfall to Western Nevada the 22nd through 23rd. While not a huge snowmaker, this storm hit at a busy travel time.
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.
A trough of low pressure along the West Coast moved inland late on the 21st bringing gusty winds through the 22nd and high elevation snowfall to Western Nevada the 22nd through 23rd. While not a huge snowmaker, this storm hit at a busy travel time.
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 Dec 22, 3:18 AM PST, 3 hours 42 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
318 AM PST Sun Dec 22 2019
.SYNOPSIS...
A storm system will continue to produce gusty winds across
eastern California and western Nevada for the remainder of the
day, with a period of snow that will likely impact holiday travel
over the Sierra. Below average temperatures are expected for the
rest of this year, with some weaker storm systems possibly
producing light snow accumulations and slick roads at times.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
Fast moving storm remains on track to bring a quick burst of snow
and wind to the region today. Snow is expected to begin to impact
travel over the Sierra between 10 am and noon. Winds should also
peak in western Nevada around a similar time as the cold front
edges into the region.
Main changes to the forecast overnight were to increase snow amounts
along the Sierra crest, add a Winter Weather Advisory for the
Sierra today, and increase snow levels east of the Sierra. Also
increased snow amounts and coverage for Monday in west central
Nevada.
Winds ramped up along the crest overnight with a gust of
113 mph measured at Ward Peak. Temperatures also remain quite
warm through the region with temperatures after midnight remaining
in the 40s and even 50s through out much of the region, even in
Tahoe.
There is more uncertainty in the forecast this morning even
though the storm is knocking at the door. Confidence is still high
in the wind aspect of the storm, but uncertainty has increased in
QPF along the crest, and snow levels in the lee of the Sierra.
There's some interesting dynamics showing up now in higher
resolution short-term guidance with multiple small waves and areas
of low pressure that could affect the trajectory of the cold
front. Guidance has consistently slowed the timing of the front
and now simulations show the splitting low pressure to the south
keeping the cold front from rushing through the region. There
could also be some convective storms that form in the central
valley that could create localized areas of greater snowfall.
Snow amounts along the crest are now projected to be in the 3 to
9 inch range with localized amounts up to a foot or so possible
depending on the convection. Amounts are still expected to taper
off quickly east of the crest as southerly flow should inhibit
spillover precipitation. Snow levels should start out below pass
level right along the Sierra crest as the sharp cold front
impacts the mountains; however, east of the crest may be a little
different story. The air is very dry which can draw snow levels
down through web bulbing, but, the air temperature is also
starting very warm with southerly flow dominating and more
indications that the cold front may get hung up. So...snow levels,
especially around the Truckee/Tahoe area, may fluctuate through
the day as the wet-bulbing and warm southerly flow compete.
Winds should be a little more 'well behaved' today, by that I
mean they should mix down to the surface more uniformly. Unlike
yesterday where some valleys were very gusty and nearby locations
were calm. The one location there is a little more uncertainty
and may not see as much wind as expected, is in Mono County where
the 700 mb winds have really backed off. As the front moves into
western Nevada wind gusts of 40-50 mph will be possible. If the
front does get hung up as it reaches the Sierra, winds may last
longer, especially in west-central Nevada.
Temperatures are also an interesting story this morning with some
areas, especially around the Tahoe Basin, possibly seeing their
high temperature of the day early this morning, then slowly
dropping throughout the day as the cold front approaches.
Interesting, there is an outside chance that Reno could see a
record high temperature today. Yesterday tied a record with 63
degrees and the record for today is 60. If this were to happen as
it would be early in the day when winds kick in.
Finally, as if that wasn't enough, chances for snow have increased
for Monday as the splitting low pressure brings wrap-around
precipitation to Mono County, and potentially all the way up to Reno
and Tahoe. Amounts with this system wouldn't be very substantial,
but Mono County could see another 2-4 inches with half an inch up
to an inch or so through a broader swath of western Nevada. That
is all for now. -Zach
.LONG TERM...Christmas, the end of 2019 and the start of 2020...
No big changes here. Snow event for Christmas Day is still on the
table, but the slider system drops rather fast down the CA coast
leaving little time for anything significant. Still a shot of
some light accumulations in the Sierra and just flurries across
western NV. Flow turns toward the northeast behind the system
Christmas night and this may lead to some upslope snow along the
eastern Sierra slopes, perhaps as far north as Reno-Carson City.
Ridge is forecast to build along the west coast Friday-Saturday.
However, a cold north flow into the region will keep highs in the
upper 30s to mid 40s for next weekend. Overnight lows will be
cold, probably single digits in the usual cold spots and teens-low
20s elsewhere.
The final days of 2019 and into the first week of 2020, ensembles
have shifted to maintaining a ridge over the eastern Pacific and
west coast. This is looking like a dry period, perhaps the first 10
days or so of 2020. Brong
&&
.AVIATION...
Strong winds, mountain waves, rotors, abundant turbulence and LLWS
will continue as a cold front moves into the region this afternoon.
Peak surface winds of 30-50 kts, with a few ridge gusts up near 90
kts. Winds and turbulent flow will diminish tonight.
Cold front will bring some rain and snow to the Sierra starting
around 18z. Precipitation type should initially start as a snow due
to the very dry air in place. A change over to rain is possible at
TRK and TVL this afternoon, then a return to snow after 00z.
Precipitation type at MMH will be all snow. Accumulations at the
Sierra terminals could range from 2-5 inches for KTRK/KTVL to 3-6
inches for KMMH. For RNO-CXP-MEV some light rain is possible late
this afternoon with a short duration of MVFR conditions.
Monday afternoon is looking more interesting as the low moves over
the Sierra with models developing an area of low clouds and snow.
This could lead to some MVFR/IFR conditions and some light snow
accumulations, even at KRNO. Brong
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Wind Advisory until 4 PM PST this afternoon NVZ001-003-005.
Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 10 PM PST
this evening NVZ002.
Wind Advisory until 10 AM PST this morning NVZ002.
Lake Wind Advisory from 7 AM this morning to 4 PM PST this
afternoon for Pyramid Lake in NVZ004.
CA...Wind Advisory until 4 PM PST this afternoon CAZ070-071.
Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 4 AM PST
Monday CAZ073.
Wind Advisory until 10 AM PST this morning CAZ073.
Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 10 PM PST
this evening CAZ072.
Wind Advisory until 10 AM PST this morning CAZ072.
&&
For more information from the National Weather Service visit...
http://weather.gov/renoThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind, 1 winter weather, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Between the mornings of the 22nd and the 23rd, 8 to 10 inches of snowfall was reported in the higher elevations (generally above about 6700 feet MSL) of the Carson Range. This includes ski areas such as Diamond Peak and Mount Rose.
Mesonet atop Slide Mountain (elevation 9650 feet MSL) recorded a wind gust of 77 mph.
Mesonet atop Peavine Peak (elevation 8270 feet MSL) recorded a wind gust of 80 mph.
Trained weather spotter 1 mile northeast of Incline Village reported 6 inches of snowfall in the past 4 hours within a convective snow band.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, December 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: 881697, 881528, 881529, 881530.