Southwest flow aloft between low pressure trough over the northeast Pacific and an upper ridge anchored over the Desert Southwest allowed mid-level moisture to stream north-northeast over western Nevada. The increased precipitable water, coupled with daytime heating and steepened lapse-rates favored the chances (10-20%) for convective initiation with isolated thunderstorms forecasted east of…
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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.
Southwest flow aloft between low pressure trough over the northeast Pacific and an upper ridge anchored over the Desert Southwest allowed mid-level moisture to stream north-northeast over western Nevada. The increased precipitable water, coupled with daytime heating and steepened lapse-rates favored the chances (10-20%) for convective initiation with isolated thunderstorms forecasted east of US-395 into the Basin and Range, as well as, north of the Sweetwater Mountains to the Oregon border. Stronger outflow winds in the late afternoon through early evening produced periods of reduced visibility in blowing dust.
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 Aug 3, 12:20 PM PST, 2 hours 27 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Reno NV 120 PM PDT Thu Aug 3 2023 .Synopsis... Thunderstorms remain possible each afternoon and evening through Saturday as the region is on the western periphery of a monsoon surge. Seasonable temperatures and winds are expected for the most part into next week. && .Discussion... * Thunderstorms remain in the forecast through Saturday. Most concentrated activity will be over far NE California, NW Nevada, and over into I-80 corridor near WMC where ECMWF EFI and HREF show a rather unstable environment. A few cells can't be ruled out further south into Reno/Tahoe and into the Pine Nut and Sweetwater Mountains. NBM t-storm guidance has 20% chance in these areas today and Friday. Typical t-storm impacts are anticipated: wind gusts to 50 mph, lightning, new fire starts in dry grassy fuels, and brief heavy rains in storm cores of 0.25 to 0.75". * Outside of storms, pretty normal early to mid August conditions for the region in terms of temperatures and zephyr winds. Main anomaly of sorts is Monday-Tuesday where we could see a slight spike in highs Monday then breezier winds Tuesday as heights fall back down again. This could be a fire weather concern on Tuesday as fuels continue to cure. -Chris && .Aviation... * Isolated to scattered t-storms this afternoon/evening and again tomorrow. For most areas the probabilities range from 5-15% for direct airfield impacts, however odds are higher from SVE northward, 20-40%. Brief MVFR conditions in rain showers, lightning, and erratic outflow winds to 40 knots are the primary concerns. * Outside of t-storms, typical wind patterns will prevail with afternoon/evening westerlies gusting 15-25 kts. -Chris && .Fire Weather... * Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are forecast each afternoon and evening through Saturday. Most concentrated areas of storm activity will be over Lassen, Modoc NF's over into far NW Nevada, though some isolated cells are possible today/tomorrow down into the Sierra Front and far northern Inyo NF near the Sweetwaters. * With any storms, while brief heavy rain is likely in the cores, lightning outside of the cores could create new fire starts in dry grassy fuels. Will continue the FWF headline, but not issue watches/warnings as fuels dryness remains mixed and elevation/aspect dependent. Moderate to good humidty recoveries at night could limit fire expanse in grassy fuel types. * Keep an eye on Tuesday for potential low-end RFW wind and low humidity conditions as brief upper ridge breaks down, leading to wind gusts 30-35 mph. -Chris && .REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NV...None. CA...None. &&
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Mesonet station (MJBN2-Majuba) located 21.0 mi WNW of Imlay, NV, reported a maximum wind gust of 61 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, August 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: 1140748.