The first in a series of unusually cold storms moved into the Sierra Nevada on the 15th and persisted through the 16th and into the morning hours of the 17th. This system brought high winds to the upper elevations of the Carson Range and Peavine Peak.
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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 REV wrote it up.
The first in a series of unusually cold storms moved into the Sierra Nevada on the 15th and persisted through the 16th and into the morning hours of the 17th. This system brought high winds to the upper elevations of the Carson Range and Peavine Peak.
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 May 15, 1:18 PM PST, 16 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
218 PM PDT Wed May 15 2019
.SYNOPSIS...
A series of storms will bring much colder temperatures back to
the region with periods of breezy winds, rain, and mountain snow.
Moderate travel impacts from snow are possible in the Sierra
tonight through Friday morning and again Saturday night through
Sunday night.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
Temperatures are forecast to be 15 to 20 degrees colder then
average with daytime highs in the mid to upper 50s for the desert
valleys and mid 40s in the Sierra. With the addition of rain, snow
and wind, it's going to feel like we're back into winter, or at
least fall the next few days. Breezy winds are expected the next
few days with gusts up to 25-35 mph today. A little stronger winds
are expected tomorrow with a few gusts as strong as 45 mph
possible.
Main change today was to issue a winter weather advisory for the
Sierra through Thursday morning due to unusual late season
snowfall. Snow levels are around 8000-9000 feet today and are
expected to drop down to around 6000 feet or so by early tomorrow
morning. Over the Sierra passes we could see 3 to 6 inches of
snowfall by early Thursday morning with up to an inch down to Lake
Tahoe level and up to 2-3 inches around Mammoth Lakes.
Lighter snow showers are expected to continue during the day on
Thursday into early Friday morning. Snow levels will be hovering
in the 6500 foot range during the day on Thursday; however, this
time of year it is much harder for snow to stick to roadways,
especially high traffic roadways like Interstate 80. So, impacts
to all but the very highest passes above 7500' are expected to
lessen during the morning hours on Thursday.
Snow levels will fall again on Thursday night with widespread snow
possible again down to around Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Lakes.
Precipitation amounts will be tapering off on Thursday, but
additional half an inch to an inch of snow could again be possible
at lower Sierra elevations. Total snow amounts through Friday
morning above 8000 feet could be a foot or more depending how
quickly the system moves through the region.
A good break between storms is expected on Friday, but with cold
temperatures in place and breezy winds expected, it's still going
to feel more like another cool fall day. -Zach
.LONG TERM...Saturday night through next week...
After brief, shortwave ridging during the day on Saturday, the
active weather pattern continues by Saturday night as a potent low
pressure system begins to move into the west coast Sunday tapering
off during the day on Monday.
*Precipitation: Recent long range model guidance continues to show
the placement of the 100+kt upper level jet setting up south of the
Tahoe Basin Saturday night into Sunday morning with a good Pacific
moisture tap. Due to model consistency, QPF/POPs have been increased
this forecast cycle with heavy rain and high elevation snow expected
during this timeframe for NE California and the Sierra. Snow levels
are likely to start out ~6500-7000 ft Saturday night dropping down
to ~6000 ft by early Sunday morning during the heaviest precip. As
the low penetrates inland on Sunday, the chances for spillover for
the western Nevada valleys increases with widespread rain expected.
By Monday, leftover rain/snow showers are likely to persist
throughout the day with snow levels ~5500 ft as the low exits
towards the east.
*Snow Impacts: Given the time of year and higher sun angle, snow
accumulations on roadways, including the Sierra passes will be
difficult during the day. That doesn't mean that roads will be
perfect though as slushy and slippery conditions are likely,
especially on the higher passes (>8500ft) on Sunday. As of now, it
looks like most of the heavier precipitation should occur after
sunrise which would reduce snow impacts, but uncertainty in the
timing of precip still exists and will need to be ironed out in the
next few days. Any snow that falls during the overnight hours is a
different story as light accumulations are anticipated on Sierra
roadways mainly above 7000 ft.
*Temperatures/Winds: Increased forecaster confidence exists for
chilly high and low temperatures for the end of this weekend and
into next week. Ensemble guidance (EPS & GEFS) shows a deep
trough over much of the western half of the country yielding to
temps being 15-20 degrees below normal. Expect high temps in the
upper 50s with lows in the upper 30s/low 40s for the western
Nevada valleys whereas areas in the Sierra can expect
temperatures 10 degrees cooler. A hard freeze is unlikely at this
time due to the anticipated overcast skies and gusty winds. As
for winds, gusty west-southwest flow looks to take place during
Sunday into early Monday with gusts in the 25- 35 mph range. It
will remain breezy thereafter.
The chance for another low pressure system for the west coast for
Tuesday through Thursday is still a possibility, but much
uncertainty exists at this time. One scenario that could play out is
a broad low pressure system dropping southward from the Pacific NW
leading to periods of light precipitation, gusty winds, and cold
temps. The other scenario could be a more potent low coming off the
Pacific with a much stronger jet bringing a good shot of heavy
precipitation and strong winds. Taking a look at AR detection tools,
they do show possible AR influence for the middle of next week for
30-37N which prompts the second scenario. Nevertheless, this active
weather pattern looks likely to stick around through at least the
rest of next week yielding to below normal temps and breezy
conditions. -LaGuardia
&&
.AVIATION...
The best chances for showers for the rest of today will be through
the northern Sierra into NE CA and extreme NW Nevada, including KTRK
and KTVL. Showers are possible in the vicinity of KRNO, KCXP, and
KMMH, but it will be more hit or miss in nature. Expect mid-level
overcast skies throughout the region with potential mountain
obscuration. MVFR cigs/vis are possible in any rain showers.
More widespread rain and higher elevation snow will develop tonight
through Thursday morning, with further reductions to cigs/vis and
continued mountain obscuration. The wet pattern will persist into
the weekend with the most likely dry window from late Friday through
midday Saturday. Sierra terminals could see very light snow
accumulation during the night or early mornings with these systems,
but any daytime snowfall will quickly melt.
Gusty winds will be persistent each day now through potentially
early next week with gusts likely exceeding 20-25 kts at area
terminals, and peak gusts occurring in the afternoons. Periods of
wind shear are possible, especially during the overnight and morning
hours as winds are stronger aloft and lighter at the surface due to
nighttime inversions and decoupling. Turbulence and mountain waves
are likely as well, especially along and downwind of the Sierra.
-Dawn/Edan
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Winter Weather Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 8 AM PDT
Thursday NVZ002.
Lake Wind Advisory until 11 PM PDT Thursday for Lake Tahoe in
NVZ002.
CA...Winter Weather Advisory from 8 PM this evening to 8 AM PDT
Thursday CAZ072-073.
Lake Wind Advisory until 11 PM PDT Thursday for Lake Tahoe in
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. Local standard time, as filed.
Mesonet WLKNV near the southwest portion of Walker Lake along US Highway 95 reported a wind gust of 59 mph. Mesonet elevation 4107 feet MSL.
Slide Mountain Summit Mesonet reported a peak wind gust of 72 mph (elevation 9650 feet MSL).
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, 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: 831946, 831944.