This winter storm shaped out to be the strongest of our recent series of late February winter storms. A low positioned off-shore the Pacific Northwest set a favorable pattern for the transport of colder northern Pacific moisture that wrapped into an attendant cold front.
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.
This winter storm shaped out to be the strongest of our recent series of late February winter storms. A low positioned off-shore the Pacific Northwest set a favorable pattern for the transport of colder northern Pacific moisture that wrapped into an attendant cold front. This storm possessed a combination of a cold air mass, sufficient moisture, strong winds, instability, and dynamic forcing to produce heavy Sierra snowfall with periods of blizzard conditions Monday through early Wednesday. With snow rations approaching 15-17:1, the light fluffy snowfall coupled with wind gusts exceeding 50 mph brought near zero visibility at times to Sierra communities Monday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon. Sierra ridge tops saw wind gusts over 100 mph through this period. This storm system also contributed to prolonged winter travel impacts.
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 Feb 26, 3:30 PM PST, 10 hours 3 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
330 PM PST Sun Feb 26 2023
.SYNOPSIS...
A major winter storm is expected to produce blizzard conditions
across the Sierra Monday and Tuesday. Anticipate multiple rounds
of snow at all elevations leading to widespread travel
difficulties, especially in the Sierra. Gusty winds could result
in near zero visibility at times due to blowing snow. A cold
airmass will also result in sub-zero wind chills across the
Sierra through Wednesday. Bundle up and protect populations and
pets who may be vulnerable.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
* A major winter storm to impact the Sierra Monday into Wednesday.
Blizzard Warnings are in effect for the Sierra starting Monday.
* A Winter Storm Warning and Winter Weather Advisories have been
posted for western Nevada areas Monday through Tuesday night.
* Expect periods of gusty southwest winds today through Tuesday
which could lead to blowing snow with reduced visibility at
times with whiteout conditions possible across the Sierra.
February is looking to end the month with a statement as major
winter storm is poised to impact the Sierra through mid-week with
periods of blizzard conditions anticipated Monday and Tuesday.
Western Nevada valleys will also see snowfall impacts as two waves
of moderate snowfall spillover Monday afternoon-evening followed
by a secondary colder wave by Tuesday morning. The main updates to
the forecast were to issue a Winter Storm Warning across the
Sierra Front along with Winter Weather Advisories for the
remaining western Nevada zones for Monday and Tuesday.
Before the main storm arrives, we do have an ongoing system
currently working its way across the Sierra which will yield impacts
tonight. This system could drop a foot or two of snowfall across the
Sierra crest with 6 to 12 inches for Sierra communities.
Monday-Tuesday Storm:
* SIERRA: The main storm will arrive Monday and continue through
Wednesday morning which will feature two distinct waves of heavy
snowfall. The first is expected Monday afternoon-evening with a
secondary colder wave Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening.
Snowfall rates could exceed 2-3"/hr during these periods. The
colder nature of the storms will result in a lighter/fluffier
snow type (15:1) which could be easily blown around by wind
gusts over 50 mph across Sierra communities and over 100 mph
across Sierra ridges. Expect periods of blizzard conditions with
periods of near- zero visibility in the Sierra. These storms are
poised to deliver feet of snowfall with upwards of 4 to 6 feet
possible along the Sierra crest. To see additional forecasted
snowfall amounts please refer to the latest Winter Storm and
Blizzard warnings.
* W.NEVADA: Gusty winds will be the main impact ahead of the storm
with gusts of 40-50 mph possible into early Monday morning. By
late Monday morning to early afternoon, spillover snowfall is
expected to commence. A brief rain-snow mix is possible on the
valley floors before changing over to snowfall. This first wave
could produce 1-3" down on the valley floors with an additional
3 to 6 inches with the second wave on Tuesday. Foothills could
see over a foot of snow through the storm. Winds will also
accompany the snow which could make blowing snow problematic,
particularly across wind prone sections of US-395/I580 through
Washoe Valley. Areas across the west-central Basin and Range
including Pershing, Churchill, and Mineral counties will see
lighter snowfall amounts of up to a couple inches but will still
be prone reduced visibility in blowing snowfall. See the latest
Winter Storm Warning and Winter Weather Advisories for
additional details and expected snow totals.
The cold nature of these storms will also result in temperatures
impacts with highs only reaching the 20s across the Sierra with sub-
zero wind chills expected by Tuesday morning across lower elevation
Sierra communities and as cold as -25F across Sierra ridgetops.
Fuentes
.LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY-NEXT WEEK...
Beginning Wednesday, we'll be on the backside of a digging trough
that will be moving southeast. Because of the placement of the upper-
level jet, additional instability may cause some lingering snow
showers across the region as the winter storm works its way out.
Long range guidance is still struggling with the location and
intensity of these showers, though they are in good agreement that
the showers will end Wednesday afternoon. Winds will calm down
Wednesday afternoon, skies will start to clear, and the sun may even
make an appearance too!
We'll warm up a little bit Thursday through Saturday, though still
around 10 degrees below average. A ridge tries to build in
Wednesday, but will get flattened by a trough scraping by to the
north on Thursday. Current ensembles don't show any precip coming
out of this system, but in the next few days it could be possible
some models start showing some light showers in northern Washoe.
Otherwise, it'll be a calm and quiet end to the work week - much
more pleasant than what we've been having the last couple weeks.
But the quiet pattern won't last long as another system will be
knocking on the door. This next wave could move though the region as
early as midday Saturday. For comparison, ensembles are showing the
QPF amounts with this system could be half as much than what's to
come with Monday's storm. Looking a little further ahead, the
western US looks to remain active through much of next week.
-Justin
&&
.AVIATION...
A quick hitting winter storm moving in this afternoon will impact
the Sierra through Monday morning. Expect moderate-heavy snow, LLWS,
turbulence, and intermittent IFR CIGS/VIS for the duration of the
storm. Snow will be most impactful for Sierra terminals with little
spillover into western NV. KTRK has a 70% for 4-6", KTVL 80% chance
of 8-12", and KMMH likely to see up to 2". Terminals in far western
NV will only see up to 2", with a 40% chance of 1" by late tonight.
Winds will stay gusty through the overnight hours and intensify more
Monday afternoon. FL100 winds this afternoon into the overnight will
get up to 40-45 kts, with Sierra terminals gusting 35-40 kts. Even
the western NV terminals will see gusty winds of 30-35 kts. Expect
periods of increased mountain wave turbulence and LLWS today through
at least Monday evening.
A more impactful winter storm with heavy snow and strong winds is
set to move into the region Monday morning before 18Z. Expect
widespread snow showers with mountain/terrain obscuration along with
periods of IFR CIGS/VIS. Heavy snowfall combined with winds gusting
up to 40 kts will create blizzard-like conditions for KTRK/KTVL/KMMH
starting 21Z Monday and going until 12Z Wednesday. KTRK/KTVL have a
80% chance for nearly 3 feet, KMMH a 70% chance for 16-24", and
KRNO/KCXP/KMEV have a 70% chance of 6-12" through Wednesday morning.
-Justin
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Wind Advisory until 11 AM PST Monday NVZ005.
Winter Weather Advisory from 11 AM Monday to 4 AM PST Wednesday
NVZ005.
Winter Storm Warning until 11 AM PST Monday NVZ002.
Blizzard Warning from 11 AM Monday to 4 AM PST Wednesday NVZ002.
Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM Monday to 4 AM PST Tuesday
NVZ001.
Wind Advisory until 11 AM PST Monday NVZ003.
Winter Storm Warning from 11 AM Monday to 4 AM PST Wednesday
NVZ003.
Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM Monday to 4 AM PST Wednesday
NVZ004.
CA...Wind Advisory until 11 AM PST Monday CAZ070.
Winter Weather Advisory from 11 AM Monday to 4 AM PST Wednesday
CAZ070.
Winter Storm Warning until 4 AM PST Wednesday CAZ071.
Winter Storm Warning until 11 AM PST Monday CAZ072.
Blizzard Warning from 11 AM Monday to 4 AM PST Wednesday CAZ072.
Winter Storm Warning from 7 PM this evening to 1 PM PST Monday
CAZ073.
Blizzard Warning from 1 PM Monday to 10 AM PST Wednesday CAZ073.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 heavy snow, 2 high wind, 1 blizzard, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Mesonet station (TADC1) Tahoe-Donner located 4.0 mi WNW of Truckee, CA, reported a peak wind gust of 59 mph.
Mammoth Lakes Airport peaked out with gusts of 62 MPH, heavy snow, and visibility less than one quarter mile at 330 AM this morning.
Mesonet station (MTH03) Mammoth Mountain located 1.7 mi S of the Mammoth Mountain Ski Summit, CA, reported a peak wind gust of 103 mph.
A CO-OP observer located at the Truckee-Tahoe Airport in Truckee, CA, reported a 24 hour total snowfall amount of 12.0 inches.
The public located at the Homewood Mountain Ski Summit, CA, the Northstar Ski Summit, CA, the Palisades Tahoe Alpine Lodge, and the Heavenly Ski Summit, CA, reported 24 hour snowfall totals of 36 inches, 27 inches, 22 inches, and 19 inches respectively.
CO-OP observers located at Tahoma, CA, Tahoe City, CA, and Boca Reservoir, CA, reported 24 hour snowfall totals of 25.0 inches, 17.5 inches, and 15.5 inches respectively.
The public located at the Mammoth Mountain Ski Base and June Mountain Ski Base reported a 24 hour snowfall totals of 20.0 inches and 15.0 inches respectively.
The Donner Pass RWIS from Caltrans has shown several prolonged periods of visibilities below 0.1 mile in snow and wind since 10 AM Monday - including an ongoing period below 0.25 miles 6 AM to 1 PM Tuesday.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2023
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: 1086353, 1086419, 1086354, 1086355, 1086357, 1086358, 1086360, 1086418.