A shortwave ahead of an upper low pushed into the Sierra early on the 15th. This shortwave produced moderate to heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada, and rain and lighter snowfall in western Nevada through the morning hours of the 16th.
Every event with a place to put it; 9 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 shortwave ahead of an upper low pushed into the Sierra early on the 15th. This shortwave produced moderate to heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada, and rain and lighter snowfall in western Nevada through the morning hours of 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 Jan 15, 3:42 AM PST, 3 hours 45 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
342 AM PST Tue Jan 15 2019
.SYNOPSIS...
Snow with moderate impacts are expected for the Sierra late
Tuesday into Wednesday as low pressure moves into the region,
with a round of snow likely impacting a portion of the Tuesday
evening commute in western Nevada. The period of heaviest snow,
along with strong southwest winds, arrives in the Sierra Thursday
with localized blizzard conditions. Lower valley rain Wednesday
into Thursday could change to snow before ending Thursday night.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
Snowfall amounts were increased for this afternoon and tonight in
the Sierra and into far western and northwestern Nevada. The snow
is expected to impact the Tuesday evening commute in the Reno-
Sparks, Carson City, and Minden areas. A winter weather advisory
for tonight will be issued shortly.
Model simulations continue to give us fits, even within the first
24-36 hours, as they have shifted gears again for precipitation
amounts into western Nevada. In contrast to the very light and
spotty snowfall received since last evening, tonight's incoming
disturbance (currently 350 miles west of Point Conception, CA) is
now simulated to bring much stronger warm air advection along
with some possible weak mid-level instability to enhance the
chance for periods of heavier snowfall rates. The HRRR has been
indicating (for several runs) precipitation totals of 0.2" to
0.45" for far western NV, with over an inch at the Sierra crest
for tonight. The 00Z/06Z NAM and GFS also indicate fairly similar
amounts. Also, much of the precipitation for western and northwestern
NV is simulated to fall before midnight.
Snow levels look to remain stubbornly near or below lower valley
floors during the period of heaviest snowfall tonight as wet
bulbing effects drag down snow levels. The nature of the snow
should be of a fairly wet, cement type (at least through the
evening) so any shoveling that needs to be done Wednesday morning
could be a hefty workout. As far as snowfall amounts this afternoon
through tonight, we expect a general 6-12 inches in the Sierra (a
bit less in Mono County below 7000 feet) with 12-18 inches in
some higher spots at the crest. For western and northwestern NV, a
widespread 2 to 4 inches is expected tonight. This evening's
commute could be rather messy for far western NV, especially if
the HRRR timing showing a rapid onset of snowfall between 5-7 PM
comes to fruition.
Wednesday is progged to bring decreasing Sierra/northeast CA
precipitation rates behind tonight's wave although showers are
likely to continue in the northern Sierra and Tahoe area due to
continued moist upslope flow. Farther south in Mono County, a more
distinct break in snow is looking more likely as brief upper
ridging builds more strongly there. Out into the western Great
Basin (western/west-central NV), minimal precipitation is expected
during the day Wednesday as forcing wanes. In any case, snow
levels are expected to finally rise off valley floors for little
chance of additional snowfall impacts. -Snyder
.LONG TERM...Wednesday night into next weekend...
Major winter storm still on track with two waves and a good
spillover event. Expect significant travel delays and impacts in the
mountains and minor to moderate impacts in the lower valleys. We
still expect snow levels to rise to 6500-7000 feet I-80 south, but
there is more uncertainty here, especially in northeast California.
Will address the details for the 3 areas separately (Sierra,
Northeast California and Western Nevada).
SIERRA: Heavy snow, with a rain/snow mix in the lower elevations
changing to all snow by late Thursday morning. There really won't be
a break in the precip between the two waves, more of a lull. Still
expecting 2-4+ feet above 7000 feet with Lake Tahoe level and below
7000 feet in Mono County problematic due to fluctuating snow levels.
The looks to start near 6000 feet to start then possibly rise to
7000 feet for about 6 hours before falling again. However, with
heavy precip falling, snow levels are known to be more static
despite warming aloft and become more isothermal. There is still a
chance this could occur (25%) keeping it all snow to 6000 feet. If
it's all snow 15-30 inches will fall. If it's as forecast, 6-18
inches. The snow will be a heavy Sierra cement to start, becoming
a bit more average in the afternoon as colder air moves in.
Winds will also be an issue with ridge gusts of 125+ mph with the
front, gradually waning during the day Thursday. Some wind will make
it down to the lower valleys with gusts to 50 mph at times. However,
we are not expecting as much blowing snow due to the heavy wet
nature, and the fluffier snow arriving when there's less wind. That
said, blizzard conditions are likely above 7-8000 feet.
WESTERN NEVADA: Heavy precip is expected with liquid amounts of 1/2
to 1.25 inches in the valleys and near 2 inches in the foothills.
Amounts in Mineral County will be about half those state. Snow here
will not be much of an issue except around Virginia City, the
foothills and the higher elevations of western Mineral County. Snow
levels will be near 6500 feet for the first part with the front,
then fall to 5000-5500 feet Thursday afternoon. Amounts are tricky,
but several inches are possible above 5500 feet. Winds will be gusty
at times, but peak near 45 mph Thursday evening as the precip moves
in.
NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA: Precip will spillover with the front with
amounts of 3/4 inch to 3 inches in Plumas and western Lassen
Counties. It will be primarily snow above 5000-5500 feet with 2+
feet possible in the higher elevations of Plumas and western Lassen
County. The lower valleys may not see much, or could see 3-6 inches
Wednesday night. Model soundings there are showing the possibility
of cold air hanging in with east flow at the surface. Again, I only
believe this to be a 25% chance, but it can't be discounted. Cold
air is notoriously slow to move east especially in the Honey Lake
basin.
FRIDAY ONWARD: This storm will exit Thursday night with snow ending
by Friday morning. It will be dry for most of the weekend with
seasonable temperatures under a short wave ridge. Then another
system is expected Sunday afternoon/Sunday night with the greatest
impact north of Highway 50. It will be splitting and weakening as it
moves through so moisture amounts are uncertain. After it moves
through, a strong ridge of high pressure is expected just off the
coast for next week giving us a break. X
&&
.AVIATION...
VFR through this morning, but there will be areas of MVFR CIGS in
the Sierra at near 2000 feet and mountain obscuration with -SHSN.
Snow will spread into the Sierra after 20Z with IFR conditions
expected at those terminals continuing through about 12Z Wednesday.
A few inches of accumulation on runways are expected.
The Highway 395 corridor in Nevada and NE California (KMEV, KCXP,
KRNO, KRTS, KSVE) will see a period of snow this evening. It will
start around 23Z near KMEV and continue through at least 08Z. It may
not be continuous, with a few breaks, but periods of IFR conditions
in this time period. Runway accumulations of up to 3 inches of heavy
wet cement are possible for these terminals. Confidence moderate-
high on periods of IFR, but low-moderate for accumulations. The rest
of Western NV will see VFR with only local MVFR in -SHSN.
After a bit of a break Wednesday with only occasional snow showers
in the Sierra, the major storm will move through. Expect areas of
LLWS and mtn wave turbulence with widespread IFR/MVFR conditions
after 03Z Thursday lasting into Thursday afternoon. Significant
aviation impacts expected and heavy runway accumulations for the
Sierra. X
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Winter Weather Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 7 AM PST
Wednesday NVZ005.
Winter Storm Watch from Wednesday afternoon through late
Thursday night NVZ002.
Winter Weather Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 4 PM PST
Wednesday NVZ002.
Winter Weather Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 4 AM PST
Wednesday NVZ003.
CA...Winter Weather Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 4 PM PST
Wednesday above 5000 feet in CAZ071.
Winter Storm Watch from Wednesday afternoon through late
Thursday night CAZ071.
Winter Weather Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 7 AM PST
Wednesday CAZ070.
Winter Weather Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 4 PM PST
Wednesday CAZ073.
Winter Storm Watch from Wednesday afternoon through late
Thursday night CAZ072-073.
Winter Weather Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 4 PM PST
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.
9 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
NWS Employee 3 miles south-southeast of Spanish Springs measured 4 inches of snow with a liquid water equivalent of 0.50 inches in a 24 hour period from 15 January 0727PST to 16 January 0727PST.
Trained weather spotter 3 miles west-southwest of Gardnerville Ranchos measured 8 inches of snow in a 24 hour period from 15 January 0731PST to 16 January 0731PST.
Eleven to 19 inches of snow fell above 7000 feet MSL within the Carson Range (above Incline Village and along Mount Rose Highway) between the 15th and the morning of the 16th.
CO-OP Observer in Minden measured 5.5 inches of snow and a liquid water equivalent of 0.54 inches in 24 hour period from 15 January 0851PST to 16 January 0851PST.
Trained weather spotter 3 miles west of Reno at an elevation of 5171 feet MSL measured 9 inches of snow in a 12 hour period from 15 January 1100PST to 15 January 2300PST.
Trained weather spotter 4 miles south-southwest of Reno measured 6 inches of snow in a 7 hour period from 15 January 1400PST to 15 January 2100PST.
Official NWS WFO Reno Observations measured 5.9 inches of snow with a liquid water equivalent of 0.59 inches in an 8-hour period from 15 January 1400PST to 15 January 2200PST.
NWS Employee 2 miles west-northwest of Sun Valley measured 6.5 inches of snow in a six and a half hour period from 15 January 1630PST to 15 January 2300PST. Elevation 5180 feet MSL.
Trained weather spotter 1 mile southwest of Lakeview measured 5 inches of snow in a 6 hour period from 15 January 1315PST to 15 January 1915PST.
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, January 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 806770, 806776, 806802, 806781, 806766, 805906, 806764, 806769, 805907.