During the final week of December, a very active weather set up with a series of generally warmer Pacific winter storms moving through the region. These winter storms were able to tap into a deep layer of subtropical moisture provided by attendant atmospheric rivers that pushed snow levels higher as compared to earlier storm systems.
Every event with a place to put it; 8 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 REV wrote it up.
During the final week of December, a very active weather set up with a series of generally warmer Pacific winter storms moving through the region. These winter storms were able to tap into a deep layer of subtropical moisture provided by attendant atmospheric rivers that pushed snow levels higher as compared to earlier storm systems. The initial winter storm from 26-27 December pushed snow levels mainly above 7000 feet where 1-2 feet of snow fell. Sierra locations below 7000 feet generally received only 1-6 inches of accumulated snow. Precipitation across much of the rest of western Nevada fell as rain with 0.50-1 inch rainfall totals measured around the Reno-Sparks-Carson City multiplex, which continued south into Douglas and Lyon counties. Lesser precipitation amounts were reported farther east. Strong wind gusts were also reported on the 27 and 30 December, especially in Mineral, Lyon, and southern Churchill counties where weather spotters and the public reported some tree damage. Wind gusts over 90 mph near Walker Lake blew over several tractor-trailers along US-95 while peak gusts across Sierra ridge-tops exceeded 150 mph.
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 Dec 26, 2:38 AM PST, 6 hours 57 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
238 AM PST Mon Dec 26 2022
.SYNOPSIS...
Dry and mild conditions will prevail for one more day with
considerable high clouds. Very strong winds and heavy rain are
expected in the Sierra tonight and Tuesday. Rain will transition
to snow in the Sierra Tuesday afternoon as snow levels drop to
foothill elevations Tuesday night. Additional storms will keep the
chance of rain and mountain snow going with additional impacts
possible through New Years Day.
&&
.SHORT TERM (Through Wednesday)...
Storm Highlights:
* A strong atmospheric river storm is poised to impact the Sierra
and western Nevada late Monday into early Wednesday morning with
widespread impacts including: strong and potentially damaging
winds, heavy rain, and Sierra snow.
* The peak of the wind impacts are expected Monday night into
Tuesday morning ahead of the precipitation. High Wind Warnings are
in effect for much of the Sierra, NE California, and W.Nevada.
* The first phase of the storm will have high snow levels with
about a 12 hour period of moderate-heavy rain in the Sierra
before snow levels drop to Sierra pass levels Tuesday afternoon.
* Impacts from snow across the Sierra are expected from early
Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning with heavy/wet Sierra
cement type snowfall. Winter Storm Watches have been upgraded to
Warnings across the Sierra and Advisories for NE California.
* For western Nevada, this will largely be a rain and wind event
with a few inches of snow accumulation possible for foothill areas
by Wed AM. While some minor urban and poor drainage area flooding
is likely during periods of high rainfall rates, mainstream river
flooding is not anticipated but rises are expected.
Storm Details:
* STRONG AND DAMAGING WINDS: High Wind Warnings are currently in
effect from Monday evening into Tuesday across NE California,
the eastern Sierra, and portions of western Nevada due the
potential for high winds ahead of the incoming precipitation.
Widespread wind gusts in the 50-60 mph range are expected. Wind
prone locations including foothill areas and along Highway 395
are looking at about a 70% probability of exceeding 60 mph gusts
and a 30% chance of exceeding 80 mph. Winds of this magnitude
can be damaging, so be sure to make preparations ahead of time
and secure any loose outdoor items or bring them indoors. Expect
impacts to travel, aviation, as well as downed fences and trees.
* PRECIPITATION (WARM PHASE through Tuesday Afternoon): Being a
moisture laden atmospheric river storm, snow levels will quickly
jump from 7500' to near 9000-10000' with the arrival of the main
moisture surge Tuesday morning. Moderate to heavy rain will be
widespread across the Sierra with spillover rain pushing into
western Nevada valleys. Rain amounts during this timeframe will
generally range from 1.5-2.5 inches across the eastern Sierra.
Western Nevada spillover rain of 0.50-1.0" is possible with less
than a quarter of inch expected east of US-95A across the Basin
and Range. Sierra elevations above 8500' could see 5-10" of
heavy/wet Sierra cement which could impact higher passes such as
Mt Rose Summit (SR-431) and Carson Pass (SR-88).
* PRECIPITATION (COLD PHASE Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday): A
cold front will move through the region and lower snow levels to
near Sierra pass levels (7000-7500') by early Tuesday afternoon
and near lake level by early Tuesday evening before dipping to
around 5000' early Wednesday morning. This will be the period
where most widespread travel impacts are expected due to
moderate to heavy snow. Elevations above 7000 feet could see
12-18" of heavy/wet Sierra cement and up to 2 feet mainly above
8000', particularly along the Sierra crest. While western Nevada
valleys will see mainly rain, a rain/snow mix will be possible
on the valley floor Wednesday morning with foothills potentially
receiving a slushy few inches of snow.
Fuentes
.LONG TERM (Wednesday Night through New Years Day and Beyond)...
The active pattern is going to continue through New Years Day and
beyond as a moist westerly flow persists across the Pacific with
no blocking pattern to keep shortwaves from reaching the Sierra
and western NV through the first week of January. Latest guidance
indicates these storms will be fairly mild with fluctuating snow
levels, but nothing too extremely high as the main belt of
westerlies will be centered far enough south to allow for our area
to be on the "cooler" side of the jet. This should help mitigate
hydrologic issues while bringing beneficial improvements to higher
elevation snowpack.
Back to this final week... we will have a relative break in the
coverage and intensity of rain/snow Wednesday night into Thursday
morning (including the Wednesday evening/Thursday morning
commutes). The flow is still rather moist such that orographic
lift should keep snow showers going in the Sierra for some light
accumulations. Models had previously been struggling with timing
of upstream energy, but have now honed in on the next several
waves to affect our area late week into the New Years weekend.
Given the flow is fast, there will likely be some timing
adjustments to each subsequent wave. So for the latest...
The first couple of shortwaves will bring light to moderate
precipitation Thursday afternoon through Friday with the first one
late Thursday the colder of the two with snow levels near or just
above western NV valley floors. Some light snow is possible even
down to lowest elevations. Right now, much of the precipitation
will fall during the afternoon Thursday before snow levels then
rise a bit Thursday evening in the wake of the first wave. Impacts
should be confined to the Sierra and foothill locations. Another
fast moving shortwave brings another round of Sierra snow and
valley rain Friday. For both systems, another couple of feet of
snow is likely above 7000 feet with several inches down to lake
level and foothill locations. Even many lower elevations into
western NV should see more beneficial precipitation.
The third system is the most interesting of the three waves as it
digs a bit more, showing signs of splitting as it moves inland.
Latest guidance shows this system holding together long enough to
bring a rather dynamic setup in the moist deformation likely to
extend across the Sierra into western NV Friday night through
Saturday night. QPF is quite robust with WPC guidance indicating
3-4 inches along the crest from Tahoe southward with 1+ inches
along the Hwy 395 corridor between Reno and Mammoth Lakes, and
0.50+" out into the Basin and Range! While there is still some
uncertainty in how far south the third system tracks (how soon
will it split), these numbers could be a bit low based on the
latest track. Saturday could be one of those significant snow days
in the Sierra and foothills with cold rainy conditions for western
NV. Latest NBM indicates a 50% chance of 2+ inches at KMMH and 35%
chance of 1+ inches at KRNO. Given the abundant moisture
associated with this system, the snow character is likely to once
again be a heavy wet one. Stay tuned!
Hohmann
&&
.AVIATION...
...Heightened threat of damaging winds and severe turbulence
late tonight into Tuesday morning...
A strong storm will bring very strong winds tonight and Tuesday
as a 160+ upper level jet pushes into the northern Sierra and
FL100 winds increase to 70-80 kts. Widespread LLWS, rotors and
turbulence are likely tonight through Tuesday afternoon with the
main period to watch being 06Z-18Z Tuesday, along and just ahead
of the main precipitation band. This period has the highest
probability of severe turbulence, strong LLWS, and surface wind
gusts in excess of 50 kts along the eastern Sierra from KSVE-KMMH,
potentially impacting all Sierra and western NV terminals. As
rain spills over into western NV Tuesday morning, surface winds
will drop down a bit, but LLWS will continue to be close to SSW
50-55 kts at FL020 into the early afternoon. If we had to pick a
window for the most extreme wind impacts, current projections
would be as follows:
KSVE: 06-12Z
KTRK,KTVL: 07-13Z
KRNO,KCXP,KMEV: 10-17Z
KMMH: 12-18Z
A period of rain and high elevation snow will follow the strongest
winds, although it will remain quite breezy and turbulent even
into Tuesday night. Most widespread MVFR conditions and terrain
obscurement will be in the Sierra where showers are likely to
persist through much of the week as additional waves move through
the region in a moist westerly flow aloft. If there was to be a
"lull" in the storm pattern this week, latest projections now
indicate a much lighter period of precipitation from midday
Wednesday through Thursday morning.
Hohmann
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...High Wind Warning from 10 PM this evening to 10 PM PST Tuesday
NVZ005.
High Wind Warning from 10 PM this evening to 10 AM PST Tuesday
NVZ002.
Winter Storm Warning from 10 AM Tuesday to 10 AM PST Wednesday
NVZ002.
High Wind Warning from 10 PM this evening to 10 PM PST Tuesday
NVZ001.
High Wind Warning from 10 PM this evening to 10 PM PST Tuesday
NVZ003.
Wind Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 10 PM PST Tuesday
NVZ004.
CA...High Wind Warning from 10 PM this evening to 10 PM PST Tuesday
CAZ070.
High Wind Warning from 10 PM this evening to 10 AM PST Tuesday
CAZ071.
Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM Tuesday to 10 AM PST
Wednesday above 5500 feet for CAZ071.
High Wind Warning from 10 PM this evening to 10 AM PST Tuesday
CAZ072.
Winter Storm Warning from 10 AM Tuesday to 10 AM PST Wednesday
CAZ072.
High Wind Warning from 10 PM this evening to 10 AM PST Tuesday
CAZ073.
Winter Storm Warning from 10 AM Tuesday to 10 AM PST Wednesday
CAZ073.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 high wind, 1 heavy snow, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
The public located 1.0 mi S of Mount Rose Ski Base reported a 24 hour snowfall total of 11 inches.
Mesonet stations (SLIDE), Mount Rose summit (DRI), located 1.0 mi ESE of the Mount Rose Summit area, and mesonet station (RRONV), located 2.0 mi WSW of Stead, NV, reported maximum wind gusts of 109 mph and 59 mph respectively.
Mesonet site (HVRBL) Mott weather station, located 2.0 mi S of Heavenly Valley, CA, reported a maximum wind gust of 61 mph.
Mesonet station (NV061) Wild Oak mountain located 1.0 SSE of Holbrook Junction, CA, reported a maximum wind gust of 62 mph.
Mesonet station (RRONV), located 2.0 mi WSW of Stead, NV, reported a maximum wind gust of 66 mph.
Mesonet station (WLKNV-NDOT) located 6.1 mi NW of Hawthorne, NV reported a peak wind gust of 79 mph.
Law enforcement located 11 SSW of Fallon Station reported an overturned semi-trailer on US-95 near the entrance to the Top Gun raceway due to high winds in the area.. No injuries were reported.
Law enforcement located 11 SSW of Fallon Station reported an overturned semi-trailer on US-95 near the entrance to the Top Gun raceway due to high winds in the area. No injuries were reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, December 2022
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: 1071393, 1071377, 1071380, 1071384, 1071386, 1071388, 1071391, 1136124.