The start of a more active weather pattern culminated in the passage of a Pacific storm into the region. The incoming cold front brought strong, gusty west-southwest winds, increased chances for more widespread moderate rain showers, and mountain snow.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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.
The start of a more active weather pattern culminated in the passage of a Pacific storm into the region. The incoming cold front brought strong, gusty west-southwest winds, increased chances for more widespread moderate rain showers, and mountain snow. Snow-levels dropping to or near higher Sierra pass level brought increased travel difficulties. An incoming cold front and strong Pacific jet stream sustained the gusty conditions across the Sierra ridges into western Nevada.
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 Nov 5, 12:49 PM PST, 4 hours 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
1249 PM PST Sun Nov 5 2023
.SYNOPSIS...
Strong winds will continue through the night and Monday, with
rain showers becoming more numerous during the day Monday. Some
snow may cause travel impacts over the Sierra Monday late
afternoon and night. From Tuesday afternoon onward, including the
Veteran's Day weekend, relatively quiet weather is expected for
most areas. A few mountain snow showers are possible Friday.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
* Areawide strong winds will continue through tonight and into
Monday in response to 140 knot upper jet and 50 knot mountain
top flow. Slight increase in the wind forecast, but overall a
just under advisory event with most areas seeing gusts 30-45 mph
with the typical wind prone spots seeing gusts 50-60 mph for
periods of time. This includes Washoe Valley, 395 in Lassen &
Mono Counties, and maybe 95 at Walker Lake. Winds will likely
not let up much tonight except in the most sheltered of valleys.
* Rain and snow showers will increase in coverage Monday into
Monday night. We're within the time horizon of the HRRR/HREF and
both of those are showing potential for a period of up to
1"/hour snow rates near the Sierra crest from Donner southward
into the E Sierra late Monday afternoon into the night. Very
convective looking environment too, so that limits
predictability but also creates a larger boom/bust scenario.
Either way we're messaging potential snow travel impacts over
the Sierra passes late Monday into the night, including the
evening commute (earlier sunset too). A few light flurries/snow
showers may persist into Tues morning, even down to about 5500'
in W Nevada foothills.
* Tuesday afternoon onward looking relatively cool and quiet with
more limited valley mixing and ventilation. Still potential for
a very quick/weak storm to bring light snow showers to the
mountains on Friday. NBM guidance showing about a 10% chance of
1" in the mountains.
* Storm door remains at least slightly ajar into the week two
period. CW3E atmospheric river landfall tools, especially the
GEFS, showing potential for Pacific storms 11/14-18 timeframe.
ECMWF EPS less so. Based on NBM temperature/snow level
projections out that far, any storms would be of the average to
cooler-end on the spectrum.
-Chris
&&
.AVIATION...
* With mountain top flow nearing 50 knots and jet stream speeds
near 140 knots, expect increased turbulence, wind shear, and
mountain wave activity through Monday. Already seeing winds
gusting to 80-95 mph along the ridges.
* Surface winds will ramp this afternoon into early Monday with
persistent breezes through the night tonight. Gusts on the order
of 25-35 knots will be common, with a 1 in 4 chance (25%) of
seeing gusts exceed 40 knots per NBM guidance at RNO and MMH for
example.
* Precipitation impacts through tonight will be confined to far
NE California (SVE) with occasional MVFR showers. Rain/snow
showers become more widespread Monday with a better bet for
seeing occasional MVFR/IFR conditions and mountain obscuration
areawide, including RNO/TRK/TVL/CXP/MEV, and even as far south
as MMH Monday night.
* Snow accumulations can't be ruled out for TRK/TVL Monday
evening/night with NBM showing 20-40% chance of 1" and even a
10% chance of 2". Latest HRRR shows a very convective
environment so snow showers will be hit/miss but if they hit
then quick accumulations and LIFR conditions are a good bet.
Snow risk for MMH is less certain but not-zero.
-Chris
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Lake Wind Advisory until 4 PM PST Monday for Lake Tahoe in
NVZ002.
Winter Weather Advisory from noon Monday to midnight PST Monday
night NVZ002.
Lake Wind Advisory from 1 AM to 4 PM PST Monday for Pyramid Lake
in NVZ004.
CA...Lake Wind Advisory until 4 PM PST Monday for Lake Tahoe in
CAZ072.
Winter Weather Advisory from noon Monday to midnight PST Monday
night CAZ072.
Winter Weather Advisory from 3 PM Monday to 3 AM PST Tuesday
CAZ073.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 heavy rain, 3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A Cocorahs station (CA-LS-2) located 3.5 mi SSW Susanville, CA, and a trained spotter located 5.0 mi WNW of Susanville, CA, reported storm total rainfall amounts of 0.99 and 0.81 inches respectively.
A CO-OP observer (FARC1) located 2.3 mi NW of Floriston, CA, reported a total rainfall amount of 0.91 inches.
An ASOS station (KTVL-South Lake Tahoe Airport) located 3.0 mi N of Meyers, CA, reported a total rainfall amount of 0.68 inches.
Mesonet station (MTH02-MAMMOTH) located 1.5 mi SE of Mammoth Mountain, CA, and mesonet station (SE089-SCE) located 1.3 mi SW of Conway Summit reported a peak wind gusts of 76 mph and 60 mph respectively.
Mesonet station (569PG-Dyer Mountain) located 5.0 mi SSW of Westwood, CA, reported a peak wind gust of 65 mph.
Mesonet station (HVRSK-Sky Weather Station) located 1.0 mi NNW of the Heavenly Ski Summit, CA, reported a peak wind gust of 75 mph.
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, November 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: 1151399, 1151390, 1151395, 1151331, 1151338, 1151333.