Weak instability and approaching low pressure kicked off a couple thunderstorms which produced strong wind gusts.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 REV wrote it up.
Weak instability and approaching low pressure kicked off a couple thunderstorms which produced strong wind gusts.
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 May 14, 4:17 PM PST, 43 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Reno NV 517 PM PDT Fri May 14 2021 .UPDATE... A couple areas of ongoing showers and thunderstorms for this evening. The first is from Pyramid Lake to Lovelock northward to the Oregon border, with the second over Mineral and far southern Churchill Counties. This is all due to the surface based instability and approaching low off the northern California coast. Activity should diminish after 8 pm this evening, though latest guidance shows forcing ahead of the low may allow for showers and thunderstorms to redevelop after midnight north of Truckee to Fallon. Brong && .PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... /Issued 237 PM PDT Fri May 14 2021/ SYNOPSIS... Another warm day today with a few thunderstorms possible near the Oregon border and summer-like afternoon breezes. Low pressure moving through California will bring cooler temperatures, showers and a few thunderstorms this weekend. Thunderstorms could linger into Monday and Tuesday with a period of breezy conditions possible next week. SHORT TERM... Widespread showers with a few thunderstorms are expected to impact the region this weekend as an area of low pressure moves north to south through California. Thunderstorms will bring periods of moderate to heavy rain, erratic gusty winds, small hail and lightning. If you are going to be outdoors this weekend, have a lightning safety plan and keep in mind that small embedded thunderstorms may form rapidly, and it only takes one lightning strike to impact your day. As the low pressure approaches northern California today, a few showers and thunderstorms will be possible near the Oregon border as instability increases north of Gerlach. Also added a slight chance of showers around Mono/Mineral County this afternoon, but vertical development should be limited. The rest of the region will see dry conditions and breezy winds up to 25-35 mph as surface gradients enhance the typical summer zephyr winds. This will bring minor impacts to area lakes and increased fire weather concerns this afternoon(see Fire Weather below for more details). Widespread rain showers with embedded thunderstorms are expected throughout the Sierra and western Nevada Saturday as the low pressure moves into central California creating a deformation axis over west-central Nevada. Showers and thunderstorms could start as early as 10-11 am tomorrow with increasing instability and very little convective inhibition. Showers may well last through the overnight hours as the deformation sets up along the I-80 corridor, but thunderstorms will become much less likely after sunset. With convection occurring early in the day enough cloud cover should develop to keep most thunderstorms from becoming strong. The best bet for stronger storms will be on the edges of main band of showers where breaks in the clouds may allow better surface heating, most likely in central Nevada. In the main rain band areas could see overall QPF amounts of 0.1-0.3" with the potential for 0.5" or more under stronger convection. By Sunday the low pressure swings through southern California bringing another day of showers and thunderstorms to the region with the highest chances shifting towards the eastern Sierra, though thunderstorms will still be possible areawide. Instability will be stronger on Sunday, so if clouds clear out enough, there will be better chances for a stronger storm or two. Shower and embedded thunderstorms may again continue into the overnight hours, especially in the Sierra. Thunderstorms will remain possible into Monday, mainly in the Sierra as the core of the low pressure moves into Arizona and stronger surface heating returns. -Zach LONG TERM...next week... Similar to the previous forecast cycle, models have continued to trend cooler mid-next week with periods of breezy winds. Forecaster confidence remains on the low end regarding precipitation chances. The upper low will continue to move away from the region late Sunday into Monday, with a short-wave ridge building into the region Monday into Tuesday. Lingering shower and isolated thunderstorm chances look likely south of Highway 50 along the Eastern Sierra Monday afternoon. Temperatures look to also rebound back into the low 80s for western Nevada valleys Monday. By Tuesday, some isolated showers and thunderstorms may be possible near Mammoth Lakes and the White Mountains. After Tuesday, ensemble clusters continue to show a trend towards cooler temperatures as another Pacific low pressure moves into the Pacific Northwest. Three of the five WPC ensemble clusters are now depicting a deeper trough making its way over the Great Basin, which would cool us down and provide better chances for precipitation. However, there is still uncertainty as the GEFS solution has the trough staying further north, which may limit the precipitation potential. The NBM continues to trend cooler for the region and a little wetter, mainly north of Interstate 80. Be prepared for further adjustments in the forecast for the Wednesday-Thursday time as the solutions pan out. As is common with late spring troughs, breezy southwest to west winds are likely in the afternoons Tuesday- Wednesday. -Johnston AVIATION... A few showers and thunderstorms are expected today north of Gerlach with lower chances in Mono/Mineral counties this afternoon. VFR expected for area terminals with breezy SW winds up to 25-30 kts this afternoon and evening. Low pressure moving through California will bring widespread rain showers and embedded thunderstorms to the region over the weekend with moderate to heavy rain, small hail, and gusty erratic winds up to 40 kts. Showers and cloud coverage is expected to be the most widespread Saturday with MVFR and terrain obscuration possible. Similar conditions are expected on Sunday with increased chances for a few stronger storms. By Monday storms are expected to be confined mainly to the Sierra with chances lingering into Tuesday in the Eastern Sierra. -Zach FIRE WEATHER... * Dry with enhanced westerly winds this afternoon and evening, although mixed vegetation moisture will help to lessen fire concerns. Showers and thunderstorms are expected Saturday-Sunday with increased chances for wetting rains, especially Saturday. Breezy westerly zephyr winds will continue to pick up this afternoon and evening with gusts in the 30-35 mph range. Minimum relative humidity values will drop into the 7-12% range. The combination of enhanced winds and low relative humidity will create an increased threat for fire starts where adequately dry fuels are present. Isolated thunderstorms and gusty outflow winds are also possible across northern Lassen and Washoe counties this afternoon and evening. Scattered showers, thunderstorms, cooler temperatures, and higher humidity levels are expected this weekend. Wetting rain chances have also increased. A few stronger thunderstorms are possible for Sunday. Next week, another round of enhanced breezes is possible Tuesday into Wednesday, which could create some fire weather concerns where there were no wetting rains. -Johnston && .REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NV...None. CA...None. && For more information from the National Weather Service visit... http://weather.gov/reno
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service RENO NV 335 PM PDT Fri May 14 2021 CAZ070>073-NVZ001>005-151045- Surprise Valley California-Lassen-Eastern Plumas- Eastern Sierra Counties-Greater Lake Tahoe Area-Mono County- Mineral and Southern Lyon Counties-Greater Reno-Carson City- Minden Area-Western Nevada Basin and Range including Pyramid Lake- Northern Washoe County- Including the cities of Cedarville, Eagleville, Fort Bidwell, Portola, Susanville, Westwood, Sierraville, Loyalton, South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City, Truckee, Markleeville, Bridgeport, Coleville, Lee Vining, Mammoth Lakes, Hawthorne, Yerington, Smith Valley, Mina, Schurz, Stateline, Glenbrook, Incline Village, Sparks, Verdi, Gardnerville, Virginia City, Fernley, Fallon, Lovelock, Silver Springs, Nixon, Imlay, Empire, and Gerlach 335 PM PDT Fri May 14 2021 ...Showers and Thunderstorms through the Weekend... Widespread showers and thunderstorms will impact the eastern Sierra and western Nevada through the weekend. Wetting rains will be possible for some locations, but there is a 25% chance that a thunderstorm will develop in any location. When thunderstorms develop there is potential for heavy rain, small hail, dangerous lightning, as well as gusty and erratic outflow winds. Wind gusts of 35 to 55 mph will be possible near thunderstorms or moderately developed cumulus clouds. At times these wind gusts can appear to come out of nowhere. Some light snow or accumulating small hail is not out of the question near and above 9000 feet in the Sierra. This could lead to difficult travel over Sonora Pass, Ebbetts Pass, and along Highway 120 west of Lee Vining. Be sure to have a way to receive weather alerts if you have outdoor plans. Be prepared for cooler temperatures, rain, and have a plan to reach shelter should thunderstorms approach your location. Those venturing into the backcountry should carry extra gear, as thunderstorms and rainfall can result in hypothermia. If you have outdoor activities or celebrations be prepared to secure banners, signs, hats, and temporary structures as gusty winds can loft these items rapidly. When it comes to lightning safety, there is no safe place if you are caught outdoors during a thunderstorm. Be sure you have a quick exit strategy to a sturdy building or vehicle. Lightning may spark new fires as well, so be sure to quickly report any new smoke you notice. Thunderstorms may develop early in the day on Saturday, maybe as early as 10am, which is pretty unusual for the Spring around here. Stay up-to-date on the weather this weekend to keep you and yours safe. http://weather.gov/reno
The Reno radar (KRGX), 86 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:59 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
NDOT weather station reported 62 MPH gusts from a weak shower/t-storm. At 557 PM a weak cell produced gusts to 56 MPH near Gerlach.
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, May 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: 952200.