Tuesday was breezy as a 150 kt jet set up over portions of the state leading to gusty to windy conditions.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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 LKN wrote it up.
Tuesday was breezy as a 150 kt jet set up over portions of the state leading to gusty to windy conditions.
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 Elko, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 16, 2:58 AM PST, 3 hours 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Elko NV 258 AM PST Tue Feb 16 2021 .SYNOPSIS...Scattered snow showers with gusty winds are expected today, although areas of heavier snow is expected over the Rubies and northern mountains. Snow decreases tonight, but a few flurries will linger into Wednesday. The next weather system begins to move into northern Nevada on Thursday. && .SHORT TERM...Today through Thursday evening. Strong orographic lift in northwest flow supported by a 160 knot jet at 300 MB. While moisture is not that plentiful, lapse rates are relatively steep that will generate convective snow banding with accumulations on windward slopes. Snow ratios will be in the 15-20:1 range for the dry fluffy variety, and easily gets lifted by expected gusty winds. Essentially these are the northern Elko County mountains north, NDOT show chains/snow tire requirements from Owyhee to Lone Station. In additions, the Rubies will have periods of snow today but tapering off this evening. While moderate snow accumulations (greater than 4”) may not be widespread, the combination of snow with areas of blowing snow warrants a winter weather advisory. Downslope winds into Ruby Valley are likely and will expand the wind advisory to include this area. As the strong jet core translates across Nevada tonight and Wednesday, air mass stabilizes and snow showers taper off although some mountain flurries will linger. Not as windy Wednesday afternoon but still breezy, particularly Tonopah and West Wendover. High pressure will be over the state on Thursday, but moisture will be increasing over northwest NV in advance of the next Pacific system. .LONG TERM...Thursday night through next Monday An active pattern continues into the start of the long term period, and showers are most likely across northern and central Nevada through the end of the week. A small break may occur in the overnight hours Thursday night into early Friday morning, but showers start up again by the afternoon. Temperatures may be just warm enough for lower valleys to see rain on Friday afternoon, while the higher valleys and mountains see light snow showers. Enough colder air eventually funnels in late Friday, and any lingering snow showers should change over to snow. Snowfall totals for the valleys currently look to be just under and inch, with higher elevations in northern Nevada likely seeing 2 to 5 inches. Highest elevations in the mountains may see 6 to 12 inches. Once showers taper off Saturday afternoon, a ridge starts to build in to our region. This keeps weather conditions quiet over the start of the new week. Winds calm down, and temperatures return to normal or just above normal numbers in the 40s and 50s. && .AVIATION...Scattered snow showers will continue overnight through Tuesday across northeastern Nevada primarily affecting the I-80 corridor from KWMC, KBAM to KEKO. Occasional MVFR and brief IFR conditions are possible with these snow showers. Improving CIGs and VIS are expected late Tuesday morning into the afternoon as snow showers diminish. Gusty northwest winds kick up regionally on Tuesday, with gusts 20 to 25 knots. Stronger winds are expected at KTPH, gusting up to 35 to 40 knots at times. Mountain waves and lenticular clouds are possible as well, with a strong jet stream over the region Tuesday. && .LKN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 10 PM PST this evening for Northern Elko County-Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt Range. Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 7 PM PST this evening for Northwestern Nye County-South Central Elko County- Southeastern Elko County. && 88/84/84
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Elko NV 357 AM PST Tue Feb 16 2021 NVZ030-031-033>041-171200- Humboldt County-Northern Elko County-Southeastern Elko County- Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt Range-White Pine County- Northern Lander County and Northern Eureka County- Southern Lander County and Southern Eureka County- Southwest Elko County-South Central Elko County- Northwestern Nye County-Northeastern Nye County- 357 AM PST Tue Feb 16 2021 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern Nevada...north central Nevada...northeast Nevada...northwest Nevada and south central Nevada. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Scattered snow showers, more numerous over the northern mountains, are expected today, but tapering off tonight. Significant accumulations are possible in the mountains, combined with gusty winds will cause blowing and drifting snow. Gusts to 45 mph will be possible this afternoon. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday. The next weather system arrives Thursday afternoon and could bring some light snow over northern Nevada Thursday night. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are asked to report weather phenomena according to standard operating procedure.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Station (MORN2) Morey Creek Raws, Elevation 5500 feet.
Station (RBVN2) Ruby Valley Raws, Elevation 6899 feet.
Station (TEXN2) Texas Springs Raws, Elevation 6162 feet.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, February 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: 938154, 938153, 938155.