A weak, fast-moving winter system moved through western Nevada bringing sparse reports of light snow accumulation from Sparks, the northern Carson Range, and northeastern Carson City the 22nd into the 23rd.
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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 REV wrote it up.
A weak, fast-moving winter system moved through western Nevada bringing sparse reports of light snow accumulation from Sparks, the northern Carson Range, and northeastern Carson City the 22nd into the 23rd.
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 Jan 22, 3:33 AM PST, 3 hours 27 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
333 AM PST Fri Jan 22 2021
.SYNOPSIS...
The weather pattern becomes more active today through the next
week with several storms on tap. The first, and weakest, storm
moves into the region today bringing some light accumulating snow
to the Sierra and western Nevada. The next storm arrives Sunday
into Monday with more snow and slightly stronger winds. The most
significant storm will impact the region by the middle of next
week bringing ample moisture and potential for heavy snow
accumulation for the Sierra.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
No major adjustments were made to the previous forecast. About the
only thing that changed was an increase in forecaster confidence
concerning the position of deformation snow for Saturday.
Today and Saturday...
A weak, fast moving winter system will move through the region
bringing light snow accumulation for the eastern Sierra. Those
traveling west of the Sierra crest could run into higher
accumulations with westerly flow upsloping along the Sierra and
should check road conditions via Caltrans before heading out; some
restrictions could be possible. Otherwise, west-central Nevada
through east-central Nevada continue to be the favored area for
deformation snow potential and will likely receive enough snow
accumulation to hamper travel. Winter Weather Advisories have been
issued for Pershing, Churchill, Lyon, and Mineral counties this
evening through Saturday afternoon. NWS Elko has similarly issued
Winter Weather Advisories and Warnings for their portion of east-
central Nevada.
Winds will be breezy enough today to warrant a Lake Wind Advisory
for Lake Tahoe with 40-45kts at ridge level. Expect aviation
turbulence with these wind speeds and potential for gusty winds
along north-south routes around Lake Tahoe. Gusts will not be a
major threat for travel in western Nevada, but some breezy
conditions will likely occur in wind prone locations and could
cause some travel restrictions for high profile vehicles.
Snow amounts: 1-3 inches around the Sierra from the Sierra crest
through the Tahoe Basin and down the eastern Sierra to Mammoth
Lakes; up to 4 inches possible along the west side of the Tahoe
Basin. 3-6 inches possible above 7000 feet for Sierra locations.
Up to an inch of snow for valleys along the Sierra Front, and up
to 2 inches for foothills like Virginia City. Generally 1-4
inches for locations that receive deformation snow: mainly from
the Sweetwaters northeastward through Churchill/Pershing/Mineral
counties. If this band lingers just a bit more than current
projections, some spots could see up to 6 inches of snow.
Sunday into Monday...
After subsiding weather activity Saturday evening through early
Sunday, the next system will bring more widespread moisture and
could cause to travel issues from the Sierra through northern
Nevada Sunday afternoon into Monday. Snow levels are expected to
remain down to all valley floors. Preliminary estimates for snow
accumulation range 6-12 inches above 7000ft in the Sierra, 3-6
inches for Sierra valleys, 1-4 inches for western Nevada valleys
and northeast California, 2-5 inches for foothills and elevations
above 5000 ft. As such, plan for disruptions to the Monday morning
commute.
Fortunately, Winds will not be much of an impact from this system
with main jet energy remaining along the California coast. Boyd
LONG TERM...into next weekend...
Active winter weather looks to continue as a series of storms will
be poised to track across the western U.S. through the end of the
month. After the precursor wave today, the next system is targeting
to move through Sunday evening into Monday followed by a potentially
significant storm in the Wed/Thu timeframe.
Monday night and Tuesday will see a lull between systems but Tuesday
morning could potentially be a very cold start, especially in areas
of snow cover. Normally colder locations could drop below zero with
clearing and any snow cover.
The storm on Wednesday into Thursday, is shaping up to be the main
event as this system draws subtropical moisture up across the
Sierra. While this storm does have potential to drop feet of snow
across the Sierra, the orientation of the low will still need to be
resolved to get a better sense of snowfall potential. Ensemble
cluster analysis does show variance on how deep this trough digs and
where the main plume will head. Snow levels may rise on Wednesday
afternoon but with colder air already in place thanks to the
previous storms, most western Nevada valleys should see snowfall
for most of the duration of this storm.
Nonetheless, keep a very close on the forecast and plan for periods
of excessive travel times with chain restrictions for a large swath
of the Sierra and western Nevada valleys between Tuesday night and
Thursday. Also keep in mind that if the storm turns out to be on the
high-end of predictions travel could wind up being impossible at
times in the Sierra with areas of blizzard conditions and periodic
road closures. Fuentes
&&
.AVIATION...
Active weather returns today with a weak storm impacting the
region through Saturday. Expect moderate-severe turbulence with
700mb flow around 45kts and as indicated by ample ACSL at and at
least 5Kft above ridge level as well as PIREPS. LLWS will be an
issue due to directional and speed shear at and below ridge
levels. Brief MVFR CIG/VIS for western Nevada terminals and
IFR/MVFR CIG/VIS for Sierra terminals are expected.
Sierra terminals will likely have snow accumulating in the 1-3
inch range starting around 18Z and continuing through Saturday
afternoon; up to 4 inches possible for KTRK-KTVL. Sierra Front
terminals favor lighter totals closer to a dusting with about a
20% chance of accumulating to 1 inch; KRNO-KCXP-KMEV. Best timing
estimates show a brief window of snow 21-00Z this afternoon with
another round overnight 08-12Z. Deformation band snow is expected
to impact west-central Nevada with accumulations around 2
inches(50-60% chance) are possible for KHTH-KNFL-KLOL; 33% chance
of 3 inches and 10% chance of up to 6 inches(if deformation
banding lingers longer than expected). Best chances for
accumulation will be 04Z-18Z Saturday.
Another storm will move into the region Sunday through Monday
bringing higher chances of 1-4 inches of snow for western Nevada
and 3-6 inches for Sierra Terminals. Winds will be weaker, but
snow accumulations higher. IFR conditions will be more widespread.
Yet another, and more potent, system is expected for the middle of
next week with significant Sierra snow accumulations and stronger
winds. Boyd
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Winter Weather Advisory from 4 PM this afternoon to 4 PM PST
Saturday NVZ001-004.
Lake Wind Advisory until 10 PM PST this evening for Lake Tahoe
in NVZ002.
CA...Lake Wind Advisory until 10 PM PST this evening for Lake Tahoe
in CAZ072.
&&
For more information from the National Weather Service visit...
http://weather.gov/renoThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Light snowfall accumulations of 1 to 2 inches were noted along the northern portion of the Carson Range from Mount Rose Ski to Diamond Peak Ski.
Sparse light snowfall accumulations up to a half-inch were observed 1-mile north-northeast of Sparks and 1 mile northeast of Carson City. No large impacts were noted.
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, January 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: 949390, 949391.