A Pacific storm system brought isolated high winds to the Nevada National Security Site.
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The episode as NWS VEF wrote it up.
A Pacific storm system brought isolated high winds to the Nevada National Security Site.
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 Las Vegas, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 16, 3:34 PM PST, 4 hours 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 334 PM PST Thu Jan 16 2020 .SYNOPSIS...A fast moving system will impact the area through tonight with gusty winds and mountain snow showers ending by daybreak Friday. High pressure takes control for the weekend, with north breezes lingering down the Colorado River Valley. Next week, another round of unsettled weather looks possible. && .SHORT TERM...through Friday. Forecast shaping up about as expected so far. Axis of sharp, upper-level trough coming onto the California shore, with plume of moisture and upper-level lift aimed at the central and northern Sierra Nevada, slowly sinking southward. Fairly widespread gusts of 35 to 50 MPH have developed in the Wind Advisory/Warnings areas, though the higher speeds have been a bit slower to develop than some of the high res guidance might have indicated earlier. Nonetheless, as gradients continue to tighten and pressure falls start occuring in central/northern Nevada, would expect gusts to continue to increase this evening, then begin shifting eastward into Utah tonight. Precipitation amounts are relatively unchanged, with the Sierra Nevada above 5,000 feet taking most of the snow, with a quick trace or inch or two spilling over into the Owens Valley. One feature that has been becoming clearer involves increase potential in the Spring Mountains. A plume of low level moisture will eject over the region quickly tonight, creating a couple hour window for Spring Mountain snow overnight tonight, perhaps laying down a quick few inches. Winds decrease after midnight tonight, with cooler temperatures for most of the area and north winds increasing down the Colorado River Valley for Friday. .LONG TERM...Saturday through Thursday. Medium-range models still continuing to advertise an unsettled midweek next week. A weekend ridge will first be broken down by a weak southern stream trough ejecting over the area, likely bringing abundant high clouds with it. A more defined/deeper trough is then expected to dig down the coast, then move east across the region Tuesday through Wednesday, bringing another round of wind and Sierra snow with it. && .AVIATION...For McCarran...For the rest of the daylight hours today, minimal impacts are expected for the McCarran terminal. However, an approaching storm system will result in LLWS concerns for airspace over the Sierra and turbulence issues for most western approaches. PIREPS are recommended through the TAF period as a result. Winds are expected to shift to initially the southeast briefly this evening, then prevail out of the south-southwest moving into the overnight hours. Wind gusts are expected to increase up to potentially as high as 30 kts, especially after 10PM. Still believe the prevailing direction should stay west of south throughout the majority of the overnight hours but speeds will stay elevated through at least 12Z. Can't rule out a sprinkle but only included VCSH in the TAF since this shouldn't be an impact. Ceilings will also briefly fall to around 8kft overnight but return to all clear visual approaches after 12Z. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...Main concerns this TAF period will be at KBIH/KVGT/KHND as a passing storm system complicates flight conditions through 12Z tomorrow. KBIH winds are expected to increase continue out of the south, reaching as high as 40 kts. A quick opportunity for snow showers and lowered ceilings aob 3kft is possible after 03Z this evening. KVGT/KHND will also be dealing with gusty south and southwest winds later in the evening (after 05Z) and ceilings lowering to 8kft. Winds should subside for the most part after 12Z. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && DISCUSSION...Steele AVIATION.....TB3 For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
This gust occurred 40 miles E of Beatty.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, January 2020
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: 872099.