A deepening low caused several inches of mountain snow across the area.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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.
A deepening low caused several inches of mountain snow across the area.
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 May 21, 2:46 PM PST, 5 hours 16 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Elko NV 346 PM PDT Fri May 21 2021 .SYNOPSIS...Daytime showers and isolated thunderstorms continue through the weekend as a low pressure system lingers over the state. Valleys can expect daytime rain with late overnight snow, and mountains continue to see all snow. Temperatures through the weekend sit well below the norm for this time of the month. && .SHORT TERM...Tonight through Sunday. A few isolated thunderstorms have been spotted over eastern Elko county, and one or two more may pop up as we head into the evening. While rain is still falling in valleys across the area, snow levels fall again overnight as temperature drop. There is some question as to whether or not they reach all valley floors, but any valleys that do see snow overnight and early tomorrow should only see snow accumulate on grassy and dirt surfaces. Otherwise, roads should remain free of snow. The exception to this may be in higher mountain passes such as in Austin and Eureka, but even then accumulations are likely to be less than half of an inch. Snow levels rise during the day again tomorrow, and isolated thunderstorms are possible again. Rain returns to valleys where showers do occur, and the higher elevations in the mountains should continue to see snowfall. With the bulk of the showers behind us, snowfall accumulations shouldn't be impressive. This pattern repeats overnight Saturday when snow levels drop, but rise again on Sunday. Temperatures sit cooler than normal with highs on Saturday in the 40s and 50s and slightly warmer on Sunday with highs in the 50s and some 60s. Overnight lows drop into the 20s and 30s, but no freeze products will be issued since the growing season starts June 1st. .LONG TERM...Sunday night through next Friday. The backside of ejecting low moves farther downstream and will not be factor in the long term period. Progressive westerly flow takes hold with a short lived ridge over Nevada on Monday morning. Short wave energy does cross Nevada Monday afternoon and evening, and it could trigger a few showers and an isolated storm closer to the Idaho border. Less certainty from Tuesday through Friday, except to say temperatures will be near climatology, and the likely scenario that central NV will be mostly dry. Disturbances may affect northern Nevada (mostly north of I80) with brief afternoon showers or a storm. Some breezes each afternoon, maybe windy Tuesday afternoon across the north. No significant weather nor weather systems producing widespread showers are expected through the period. && .AVIATION...Widespread showers expected during the next 24 hours, possibly mixed with snow around 12Z (+- 2 hours) at all TAF sites. Mountains will be frequently obscured through the period. The chance of MVFR varies at each TAF site and is discussed below: MVFR cigs are likely to expand at KBAM and KEKO with the probability exceeding 50% between 12Z-16Z. Lower probability at KWMC with a 2 out of 5 chance (~40%) for ceiling below 3K feet. MVFR cigs will be dissipating after 18Z when VFR is expected to prevail at these TAF sites. MVFR cigs are possible at KELY, but the probability is around 25% at 12Z-14Z, coinciding with the best chance for light snow. Southerly wind gusts to 30KTS may inhibit the lower ceilings. KTPH, no MVFR cigs are expected (less than 10%) with nearby showers. && .FIRE WEATHER... && .LKN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 5 AM PDT Saturday for Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt Range. && 84/88/88/84
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Elko NV 337 AM PDT Fri May 21 2021 NVZ030-031-033>041-221045- 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- 337 AM PDT Fri May 21 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. Widespread precipitation is expected today and tonight. Snow levels early this morning are around 4500' to 5000' in the western half of Nevada and 5000' to 5500' in the eastern half. Most valleys will therefore see snow or a rain/snow mix through early this morning, though impacts should be minimal as most roads should remain warm enough to melt falling snow. Nevertheless, some vegetation and dirt surfaces will be able to accumulate up to several inches of snow, especially along Hwy 50, and Austin and Pinto Summits could get icy at times as well. Visibility will still drop at times in snow showers, however, so travelers in northern and central Nevada still need to be cautious. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the Ruby Mountains through early Saturday morning with expected snowfall of 5-9 inches with possibly of up to a foot on the peaks. Snow levels will rise throughout the day, landing somewhere around 6500-7000 feet later in the afternoon and into the evening. Isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms are possible throughout northern and central Nevada. Well below normal low temperatures continue tonight in the 20's and 30's, with some areas of hard freeze possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. Showers and isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms continue through the weekend with continued below normal temperatures. Higher valleys and summits could once again see precipitation in the form of snow on Saturday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are asked to report weather phenomena according to standard operating procedure. 90
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Ten and four tenths of snowfall fell 1 mile N of Austin and is verified by a photo from social media, Elevation 7070 feet.
Six and a half inches of snowfall fell 1 mile NW of Eureka, Elevation 6490 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, 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: 950878, 950879.