Nevada, 2021

High Wind in Nevada, March 10, 2021

March 10, 2021 · NWS VEF · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Light showers falling through dry low level air produced an isolated high wind gust.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS VEF wrote it up.

Light showers falling through dry low level air produced an isolated high wind gust.

What forecasters said that day

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 10, 1:46 PM PST, 3 hours 9 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 10, 1:46 PM PST, 3 hours 9 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
146 PM PST Wed Mar 10 2021

.SYNOPSIS...A large and slow moving Pacific storm system will
begin to affect our region and bring cool showery weather through
Friday. Scattered to numerous showers are possible each day with
mainly light snow accumulations in the higher terrain above 4000
feet. Dry conditions return over the weekend with moderating
temperatures. &&

.DISCUSSION...Tonight through Wednesday.

The weather pattern through the rest of the week will be dominated
by a closed upper level low drifting across the Southwest US. This
will bring several rounds of showers and cooler temperatures to the
region.

The current area of showers should continue to rotate northeast this
evening and overnight. Coverage should also decrease with the loss
of daytime heating and general diffuse forcing instead of any
specific focused forcing like we have this afternoon. Best chances
tonight should be over the southern Great Basin.

The main low will shift eastward on Thursday. Expecting an uptick in
showery activity again tomorrow afternoon, with at least some chance
for precipitation across the entire area as temperatures aloft will
be cooler than today. Basically, there will be a lot of hit and miss
showers, with the most widespread activity over the higher terrain
as well as through northern Mohave through Lincoln and Nye counties.
Much like today, precipitation amounts should be light with a few
moderate bursts but with showers moving along quickly- it likely
wont result in any impacts. With cold core processes, a few
thunderstorms will also be possible, mainly north of I-15. Show
should be confined to above about 3500-4000ft.

The models continue to highlight the slower trend for the exiting low
Friday. Precipitation chances have increased since the previous
forecast, especially in Clark, Lincoln, and Mohave counties. Lower
confidence in the QPF for Friday since models are having a hard time
resolving the exit of the system, however anticipating similar
precipitation totals to today and tomorrow. Also lower confidence in
isolated thunderstorms developing Friday afternoon, but included a
mention of thunder in areas south of the I-15.

The system should finally exit the area Saturday. Behind the low,
increasing north winds are likely. Winds should increase in
Esmeralda and northern Inyo Friday, as they will have the best
chance for the system clearing the region and northerly flow will
take over. More widespread northerly winds are expected Saturday,
though models remain inconsistent on the strength of the winds.
Currently not seeing anything that would suggest high impact winds.

Low confidence in the long range forecast continues as an active
pattern continues next week. Increasing confidence that there will
be a lull on Sunday with dry weather and moderating temperatures
after well below temperature through Friday. After that, a series of
systems will likely impact the region but unsure when and what kind
of impacts would result.

&&

.AVIATION...For McCarran...

Gusty southwest winds will continue into the evening hours until
about 03Z when southerly wind will become less gusty after sundown
with wind remaining around 10 kt through the night.  Periods of CIGS
around 10kft can be expected.  Periods of VCSH or -RA are likely
through the TAF period. During showers, we could see CIGS drop to
5kft.  light and variable winds return after 15Z Thursday before
picking up again from the southwest around mid day with gusts to 20
kt.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast
California...

South to Southwesterly winds continue across the Mojave Desert this
afternoon with gusts of 25-30 kts for the Las Vegas Valley sites and
KDAG. Southerly winds are gusting from 20-25 kts along the Colorado
River Valley. These winds will continue into the evening hours when
we lose daylight after about 03Z when wind will decrease a little
and become less gusty. Isolated showers are expected through the TAF
period at every TAF site. Where showers develop, terminals can
expect gusty, erratic winds from the direction of the showers as
well as a CIG drop to 3-5 kft.
&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report
any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating
procedures.
&&

DISCUSSION...Nickerson
AVIATION...Berc

For more forecast information...see us on our webpage:
https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Las Vegas Valley

When
March 10, 4:55 PM PST
Where
Las Vegas Valley forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
36.215, -115.014 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

This gust occurred at the Henderson Executive Airport (KHND).

What these are

High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Nevada in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, March 2021

Sources

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: 938877.