A deep and slow-moving upper level low and associated cold front brought snow to the Sierra Nevada and Western Nevada the 26th through the 29th. Snowfall totals ranged from a trace to as much as 6 inches in the lower valleys of western Nevada.
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 deep and slow-moving upper level low and associated cold front brought snow to the Sierra Nevada and Western Nevada the 26th through the 29th. Snowfall totals ranged from a trace to as much as 6 inches in the lower valleys of western Nevada. The wide range in snowfall totals was due to the banded nature of the snow through much of the event.
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 Nov 26, 3:17 AM PST, 3 hours 43 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
317 AM PST Tue Nov 26 2019
.SYNOPSIS...
A strong winter storm will bring widespread snow and gusty winds
this afternoon through early Wednesday, producing significant
travel impacts. Snow showers will continue especially near the
Sierra for Wednesday into Thanksgiving Day. Cold temperatures will
prevail, with increasing chances for more snow and widespread
travel impacts late Saturday through early next week.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
The only notable change to the short term forecast period was
shifting the peak snowfall intensity a bit earlier, with the
overall highest snow chances this evening between 4-10 pm from
US-50 northward. Due to the complex nature of this storm system
and varied snowfall over eastern CA-western NV, please refer to
the latest Winter Storm Warning and Winter Weather Advisory
statements for forecast snowfall amounts.
The window of opportunity for dry travel conditions will be
closing by this afternoon as snow spreads rapidly into northeast
CA and the Sierra. The first snowflakes could begin around noon
from Donner Summit northward, with steady snow reaching most
Sierra passes before 4 pm. The snow will have little resistance in
spreading across lower elevations of eastern CA-western NV, with
some impacts becoming more likely during the peak commute (4-6 pm)
around Reno-Carson City-Minden. During the evening hours, peak
snowfall rates may reach or exceed 2 inches/hour, and a few
lightning flashes could even occur. Travel this evening is highly
discouraged, especially over the Sierra, as gusty winds and
powder-like snow will likely produce periods of whiteout
conditions with blowing snow, further adding to the travel
hazards.
Later tonight, the heaviest snow is expected to shift south of
US-50, although snow showers and gusty winds will continue over
most of the region, with blowing/drifting snow and harsh wind
chills.
For Wednesday, snow will diminish to scattered snow showers in
most lower elevations, although near the Sierra there may not be
much of a break in the steady light-moderate snowfall. Chilly
temperatures with brisk southwest winds will produce conditions
more like Christmas Eve, rather than Thanksgiving Eve.
For Wednesday night into early Thursday, cold air flowing over the
relatively warm lake waters will produce conditions favorable for
bands of lake effect snow especially downwind of Lake Tahoe, and
to a lesser extent for Pyramid and Walker lakes. Areas which could
see at least a few additional inches of snowfall, and potentially
a foot or more, include Incline Village through the Mt. Rose
Highway, and down into Galena and Washoe Lake.
There is also a possibility for one more period of steady light
snow into Thursday morning over parts of western or west central
NV, producing an additional coating of snow on the already sub-
freezing road surfaces. A shortwave rotating around the main upper
low over northern CA is the main reason for this additional snow
potential, but confidence in the track of this wave is still
rather low.
During the rest of Thanksgiving Day and into Thursday night, snow
showers will diminish from north to south, with only minor
additional accumulations expected. It will become quite cold
Thursday night with lows mainly in the single digits and teens,
with colder Sierra valleys dropping below zero. MJD
.LONG TERM...Friday through next week...
...SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM TO AFFECT WEEKEND TRAVEL...
Significant changes to the forecast were made. The two main
forecast changes were to increase precip changes and increase QPF
significantly, particularly for the Saturday night to Sunday night
time frame. MAJOR TRAVEL ISSUES ARE VERY LIKELY SATURDAY NIGHT
THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT, especially given the enhanced travel volume
after the Thanksgiving holiday. Significant travel issues may
extend into Tuesday.
After a cold but relatively quiet period Friday into Saturday
morning, the next winter storm will arrive Saturday afternoon.
Models and ensembles are now in very good agreement on this
scenario with a subtropical moisture tap associated with it. Snow
in the Sierra, heavy at times, is likely to begin Saturday
afternoon and least through at least Monday morning. Parameters
also are favorable for spillover, so about 6 hours after the snow
starts in the Sierra, precip will move into western Nevada if not
sooner. This storm may linger off the coast into Tuesday with
continued precipitation. The forecast continues to mention precip
through this time, but with lower chances.
WHAT WE KNOW: Significant snowfall in the Sierra with decent
precipitation into Western Nevada. The precipitation will begin as
all snow Saturday into Saturday night as models forecast a classic
cold air damming setup. That means east winds at low levels will
trap the cold air in the valleys. Water equivalent amounts could
be anywhere from 2-5 inches along the Sierra Crest and up to 1
inch in western Nevada. Gusty ridge winds are also likely, with
some gusty winds in the Sierra valleys. Winds in western Nevada
will be low to moderate.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW: Precip type Sunday through Monday and
therefore snowfall accumulations, especially for the valleys.
Warm air aloft will move in with snow levels eventually rising to
6-7000 feet by Monday night in the Sierra. However, with the cold
air damming and cold air trapped, how long will it remain? It
could be a situation where Lake Tahoe changes over to rain as much
as 12 hours before Reno/Carson. Snowfall probability of 12+ inches
is 60-80% in the Sierra. For Reno/Carson, the probability of 6+
inches is around 50%.
Another concern, while very low probability but very high impact,
is freezing rain mixing in with the warm air aloft. For valleys
below 5000 feet we will show a slight chance of freezing rain
Sunday afternoon into Monday. More rain/snow with moderate snow
levels into Tuesday.
Now, it does look like a break by midweek, but ensembles are
showing a decent probability of another storm late next week.
The active pattern looks to continue into the second week of
December. X
&&
.AVIATION...
The storm will arrive this afternoon with ridge winds rapidly
increasing this afternoon and evening. Ridge gusts to peak over
near 100 kts around 06Z creating turbulent mountain waves and
LLWS for all terminals. Peak gusts from the W-SW at the terminals
will be around 30 kts this evening and up to 45 kts for a couple
hours behind the front. Timing for the front is 06-07Z for
Tahoe/Sierra Front and 10-12Z for KMMH. Gusty winds will continue
Wednesday with mtn wave turbulence, but less LLWS and terminal
gusts to 25 kts.
As for precip, snow will begin in the Sierra 21-00Z and in
western Nevada 00-02Z. Blowing snow will also be an issue. Times
for peak IFR conditions tonight into Wednesday and runway
accumulations listed below:
KTRK/KTVL: IFR 23-15Z with runway accum 7-10 inches.
KRNO/KCXP/KMEV: IFR 02-06Z with runway accum 2-5 inches.
KMMH: IFR 04-17Z with runway accum 5-8 inches.
Occasional snow showers will continue Wednesday afternoon through
Friday with occasional MVFR to IFR conditions, most likely in the
Sierra. A lake effect band is possible off Tahoe 06-15Z Thursday
and may affect either KRNO or KCXP. Winds will generally be light
during this time frame.
Another significant winter storm is likely Saturday afternoon
through Monday with more snow and gusty ridge winds. Significant
snowfall is possible at all terminals. X
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 4 PM PST
Wednesday NVZ005.
Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM this afternoon to 4 PM PST
Thursday NVZ002.
Winter Weather Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 4 PM PST
Wednesday NVZ003.
CA...Winter Storm Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 4 PM PST
Wednesday CAZ071.
Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 4 PM PST
Wednesday CAZ070.
Winter Storm Warning from 7 PM this evening to 7 PM PST Thursday
CAZ073.
Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM this afternoon to 4 PM PST
Thursday CAZ072.
&&
For more information from the National Weather Service visit...
http://weather.gov/renoThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Mount Rose Ski Area reported 32 inches of storm total snowfall from the 26th through the 30th at 8260 feet MSL.
CO-OP Observer station VRCN2 in Virginia City reported 8 inches of snowfall from the 26th to the 27th at an elevation of 6340 feet MSL.
Trained Spotter 1 mile northeast of Incline Village reported 13 inches of snowfall from the morning of the 26th to the morning of the 27th at an elevation of 6700 feet MSL.
Diamond Peak Ski Resort reported 12 inches of snowfall from the morning of the 28th through the morning of the 29th at 6700 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, November 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: 868272, 868271, 868284, 868288.