Isolated high winds occurred ahead of a cold front.
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The episode as NWS VEF wrote it up.
Isolated high winds occurred ahead of a cold front.
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 Nov 18, 10:27 AM PST, 1 hour 26 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 1027 AM PST Wed Nov 18 2020 .SYNOPSIS....Continued unsettled weather pattern with fluctuations in winds and temperatures expected at times through the week as a series of systems impacts the western US. The initial round through midweek will bring warming temperatures with breezy conditions, followed by cooler weather and breezes once again for the end of the week. Significant precipitation or widespread impactful weather is unlikely through at least the beginning of next week. && .UPDATE...Breezy to windy conditions have been noted across the region. Most areas in the wind advisory were gusting 35-45 MPH, with some places in the higher elevations of the Spring Mountains gusting to around 50 MPH. Isolated locations have seen close to 60 MPH gusts, mainly near Desert Rock. Even with a few reports of higher winds, will let the wind advisory continue without changes as the higher gusts will be sporadic. The strongest wind should continue through 21Z before slowly tapering off late this afternoon and evening. Snow showers were noted per radar and satellite over the Sierra peaks, but not much moisture was making it over the ridgetop through the morning. Trimmed back precipitation chances through the afternoon to be confined to the higher elevations as expect moisture to stay on the western side of the Sierra, which agreed with most of the hi-res models. Snow will taper off this afternoon, with no major changes made to snow amounts or impacts from the previous forecast. && .PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...122 AM PST Wed Nov 18 2020 .SHORT TERM...Through Friday. The focus for the short term remains the current batch of ongoing unsettled weather, brining mainly gusty winds to the region. Upper-level trough will continue to slide east north of the area today and flatten out. The belt of strongest winds, which was a more southerly orientation over Inyo, Esmeralda, and Nye counties today will pivot and shift east, primarily impacting Death Valley, southern Nye, Lincoln, Clark, and northern Mojave counties today. Given the thinning cloud cover and momentum all the way down to 850 mb, have little doubt a good chunk of the region will mix well and realize both wind potential and near record high potential today. Downslope enhancement from the Spring Mountains remains possible through the day, potentially impacting US-95 with strong crosswinds, and enhancing winds in the western fringes of the Las Vegas Valley. As moisture sinks southward over the Sierra Nevada today, would expect downslope enhancement there to diminish. Thursday looks to be an in-between day as the bulk of the shortwaves are off to the east, with a couple still offshore. The loss of mechanical mixing along with cooler air filtering into the region on the backside of the initial upper-level should result in a temperature drop, but lighter winds. By Friday, the approach of the shortwave troughs may try to increase winds, but may end up just increasing mid and high level clouds across the region with jet streak nosing in. .LONG TERM...Saturday through Tuesday. Multiple shortwaves are forecast to move across the west over the weekend into early next week. Confidence in timing, depth and track of any individual wave is low but overall, it looks like impacts should not be significant. Breezy to windy north wind conditions are possible over the weekend along the Colorado River Valley which could lead to some minor to moderate impacts on area lakes. Otherwise, expect periods of high clouds, occasional breezes and fluctuating temperatures during this time frame. && .AVIATION...For McCarran...Southerly winds will become increasingly gusty through the morning hours with gusts to near 30 knots possible throughout the day. Gusts will ease after dark but southerly winds will remain elevated late into the night. Pockets of moderate turbulence can be expected in the region, especially immediately downwind of the Spring Mountains. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...Gusty southwest winds are expected across much of the region, with the strongest winds focused from the western Mojave desert into Southeastern Utah. Gusts of 20 to 30 knots can be expected from the morning hours through sunset before easing. Further north near KBIH, southeasterly winds will be gusty through the day with pockets of strong turbulence likely near the Sierra. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && UPDATE...Nickerson SHORT TERM...Steele LONG TERM....Salmen AVIATION.....Outler 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 at Mercury-Desert Rock.
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, November 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: 924949.