A Pacific low pressure system and associated cold front brought high winds to the Owens Valley and portions of the Mojave Desert.
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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 VEF wrote it up.
A Pacific low pressure system and associated cold front brought high winds to the Owens Valley and portions of the Mojave Desert.
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 Mar 15, 12:28 PM PST, 1 hour 14 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 128 PM PDT Mon Mar 15 2021 .SYNOPSIS...A potent weather system will move through the area today, bringing strong winds, another chance for precipitation, and cooler temperatures. Warmer and drier conditions will begin Tuesday and continue through the week as high pressure builds over the region. && .SHORT TERM...Today through tomorrow. Latest satellite indicating significant areas of subsidence (sinking air) in the lee of the Sierra, Spring Mountains, the Cottonwood Mountains (west of the Badwater Basin), and across much of central Nye county. Downslope of these areas is where much of the strongest winds have been so far today where gusts of 50-65+ mph have occurred. Elsewhere, winds have been gusting to 30-45 mph mostly. As the low responsible for today's weather continues to dig down eastern CA and over southern NV by tonight, strong winds will continue before moisture starts to spill into our area. Latest guidance indicates decent snow rates across southern NV and northwest AZ as the low moves across the region later this afternoon through tonight. Even though snow levels will be fairly high initially, 6000-6500 feet, snow levels are expected to crash quickly as the low center moves over head dropping to below 4,000 feet by tonight. Increased QPF values from the latest models resulted in snow totals of 3 to 6 inches for elevations mainly above 5,000 feet for areas across south- central NV and northwest AZ. Additionally, any convective snow bands that do develop may locally reduce snow levels, resulting in locally higher snow amounts. As a result, went ahead and issued Winter Weather Advisories for elevations above 5,000 feet in Esmeralda, central Nye, and Lincoln counties which will go into effect at 2pm PDT. Similar conditions expected across northern Mohave County as well, but aren't expected until this evening, when the Winter Weather Advisory will go into effect at 8pm MDT. Besides those changes, expect scattered rain/high elevation snow showers to develop this afternoon across much of the region. Hires is indicating that a deformation zone will be the primary area for precipitation development/enhancement as the low center moves through southern NV. Las Vegas looks like their best shot for seeing precipitation will be from 2pm to 11pm PDT. In addition to precipitation, went ahead an upgraded the Wind Advisory for Death Valley to a High Wind Warning. Latest guidance indicates gusts to 60 mph may be possible mainly from Stovepipe Wells to Shoshone (basically across Badwater Basin), including Furnace Creek and Badwater Road. Strongest winds are expected this afternoon. Winds are expected to decrease quickly this evening as the low center moves overhead, with gusts generally dropping below 30-40 mph by 10-11pm tonight, though winds look to hang on across the western Mojave Desert near Barstow/Daggett a little longer, before decreasing around midnight- 1am. The low pressure system will quickly move out of the region by Tuesday morning, leaving only lingering chances for light snow showers across eastern Lincoln County and northwest AZ through Tuesday morning. Temperatures will be about 5-10 degrees below seasonal normals today and tomorrow. .LONG TERM...Wednesday through Sunday. Quiet weather is expected for much of the rest of the week as high pressure sets up over the area. This will allow for much warmer temperatures to take over with readings by the end of the week likely to several degrees above normal. There seems to be good agreement in the ensemble clusters that another trough will approach the coast over the weekend bringing increasing winds, cooler temperatures, and precipitation chances for portions of the area. && .AVIATION...For McCarran...Gusty winds from the southwest through early evening with wind gusts expected to peak up to 35 kts by 03z. Rain showers will also begin to develop around the valley and all approach/departure corridors as well late this afternoon. Can not rule out a stray light shower even in the overnight hours. Ceilings are likely to fall below 5kt which may affect air traffic. If any heavier showers move across the terminal ceilings could intermittently drop to 4 kft. This lower ceiling scenario is less certain at this point. However, if it materialized it won't persist longer than an hour or two. Ceilings will only slowly improve overnight as the system slowly exits to the east. Mush lighter winds Tuesday with some clouds hugging the higher terrain most of the day For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California....Strong gusty winds will continue across the inland deserts into the late evening or early Tuesday before weakening. Areas of blowing dust and locally reduced visibility primarily around dry lake beds. Intermittent rain/snow showers are also possible as well dropping ceilings to MVFR for terminals in the area. Most persistent shower activity (and thus lower ceilings) will be located in southern Nevada and northwestern Arizona through early Tuesday. Conditions will improve areawide Tuesday as the low continues to move east. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && Short Term...Kryston Long Term...Nickerson Aviation...Pierce 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.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The peak gust was measured 22 miles SSE of Olancha. A big rig was blown over on Highway 395 just north of the Inyo-Kern county line.
The peak wind was measured at the Twentynine Palms (KNXP) ASOS.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in California, March 2021
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: 946873, 946874.