This AR fed winter system shaped up to be a major heavy snow event for Mono, Mineral, and Southern Lyon Counties, that extended south into Inyo and Esmeralda Counties. A deformation axis wrapped into the region with moist subtropical air transported by a moderate to strong AR that was directed into central and southern California.
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.
This AR fed winter system shaped up to be a major heavy snow event for Mono, Mineral, and Southern Lyon Counties, that extended south into Inyo and Esmeralda Counties. A deformation axis wrapped into the region with moist subtropical air transported by a moderate to strong AR that was directed into central and southern California. A strong southeast to east-southeast upper flow also aided in setting up the convergence zone in addition to upslope flow into the eastern Sierra. Impacts were considerable for routes between western and southern NV, that included closures of US-395, US-95, and Hwy-6 due to heavy snow in addition to strong south-southeast winds creating blowing and drifting snow and periods as well as near zero visibility. Dangerous wind chills occurred across the High Sierra with additional impacts for more vulnerable populations.
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 24, 2:58 AM PST, 4 hours 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
258 AM PST Fri Feb 24 2023
.SYNOPSIS...
A cold and stormy period will continue through the end of February
and into the beginning of March. Anticipate several rounds of snow
at all elevations leading to widespread travel difficulties,
especially in the Sierra. Periods of enhanced winds will make it
feel that much colder. Bundle up and protect vulnerable
populations and pets.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Satellite imagery featuring a simple water vapor channel reveals an
upper low spinning southward along the Pacific coast this morning.
Local observations show the southern to southeasterly flow at the
surface is interacting with the Sierra Nevada range. The low will
continue to glide southward along the coast slowly, which keeps the
trajectory of the system and associated showers in alignment with
the Sierras, allowing for a prolonged snowfall event to unfold today
through Saturday evening. Upslope flow will enhance snow showers in
the Sierra as the low is eventually swept up by the jet and carried
off to the east.
Things are already getting started for the Sierra, lighting up the
radar over S. Lassen, Plumas, Sierra, Nevada and Placer counties
this morning. Although the northern reaches of the region are first
to see snow flying this morning, the bulk of the precipitation with
this system will be south of I-80. Mono, Mineral, S. Lyon, into Inyo
and Esmeralda counties. For Mono/Mineral/S. Lyon counties, a 60-90%
chance of at least 12" of fresh snow through Saturday night. For the
Tahoe Basin a 70% chance of 10" exists for elevations above 7000
feet. For those below 7000 feet to lake level, up to 6 inches
(70% chance) is expected. Further north into Lassen, N. Washoe and
Pershing counties, there's an 80% chance for 2-4" of new snow. To
add another dimension, gusty winds of up to 35 mph may be found
in valleys, while wind prone areas could see gusts reaching 45
mph.
Impacts to the Friday morning commute will be widespread, but we
will see considerable impacts for US-395, US-95 and Hwy-6. Heavy
snow and gusty winds will work to reduce visibilities over area
roadways, especially south of I-80. Expect slick driving conditions
to take shape during the early morning hours. The best approach is
to give yourself plenty of time and space between vehicles, and keep
speeds in check to limit hard braking. Make sure to check with
CalTrans and NDOT for the latest road conditions.
We finally see this round of snow come to a close Saturday night,
which is right ahead of the next wave to arrive early Sunday. And it
will seem as if we are stuck on repeat for awhile as the storm door
seems to be flung wide open yet again this season.
For the Sunday system, guidance is trending toward wetter solutions,
so confidence is therefore increasing for higher snow totals. The
trends are also progressing faster with the arrival of the Sunday
system, so the break we experience from this current low to the
next system will be brief. Snow showers may arrive as early as 8
AM to the northern Sierra, and will progress southeastward across
the area through Sunday afternoon. The higher snow totals will
create travel difficulties to include whiteout conditions in the
Sierra on Sunday. Combining higher snow totals with south to
southwest winds kicking up gusts 30-40 mph for valleys and 50-60
mph for Sierra ridges, visibilities on area roads may yet again
suffer.
Monday morning we get on board for yet another trough to dig across
the region. Monday night may bring about yet another instance of
heavy snowfall in the Sierra, creating more travel impacts. This
active pattern will be around through mid-week before we see a
meaningful break for Thursday. The position of the ridge over the
northeastern Pacific will continue to allow cold source region waves
to rotate through the Pacific NW and down towards our region.
Outlooks suggest we will remain cooler and wetter through early
March, which indeed looks to be marching in like a lion. HRICH
.AVIATION...
Winds will steadily decrease through the forecast period. FL100 winds
this morning 70-75 kts from the S/SW will taper off to 25-35kt aft
00Z. Expect mountain wave turbulence and LLWS to continue through
this morning but gradually lighten this evening into Saturday.
Snow showers have kept mainly along the Sierra Crest. Snow showers
will begin to spillover this morning into the rest of Western NV.
Accumulations will start off light but increase with bands of
moderate snow bringing heavier amounts going into the afternoon
through evening. Snowfall accumulations through Friday morning for
KTRK/KTVL will range 5-8" range, with western NV terminals seeing
up to an inch of accumulation. These showers will bring
widespread mountain/terrain obscuration along with periods of
IFR/LIFR for CIGS/VIS.
Snow showers will continue in the Sierra and western NV through
Saturday morning as this winter storm moves through the region
today through Saturday. Snow will be pushing into western NV terminals
between Friday morning through 18Z. Snow will taper north to south,
mostly ending for areas north of US-50 through Saturday afternoon,
and decreasing for KMMH/KHTH overnight Saturday into early Sunday
morning. Total accumulations for KTRK/KTVL are still expected to
be in the 6-10" range, while 1-4" will be possible for
KRNO/KCXP/KMEV and still upwards of 2 feet for KMMH. -Amanda
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Winter Weather Advisory until 10 AM PST Saturday NVZ004-005.
Winter Weather Advisory until 10 AM PST Saturday NVZ002.
Winter Storm Warning until 4 AM PST Sunday NVZ001.
Winter Weather Advisory until 10 AM PST Saturday NVZ003.
Lake Wind Advisory until 4 AM PST early this morning for Pyramid
Lake in NVZ004.
CA...Winter Weather Advisory until 10 AM PST Saturday CAZ070.
Winter Weather Advisory until 10 PM PST this evening CAZ071.
Winter Weather Advisory until 10 AM PST Saturday CAZ072.
Winter Storm Warning until 4 AM PST Sunday CAZ073.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
The public located at the Diamond Peak Ski base and the Mount Rose Ski Base, as well as a trained spotter(WA-12) located 1.0 mi NNW of Incline Village reported storm total snowfall of 11.0 inches, 10.0 inches, and 6.8 inches respectively.
A trained spotter located 4.0 mi SSW of Reno, NV, reported a storm total snowfall of 8.5 inches. Another trained spotter located 3.0 WSW of Gardnerville Ranch, NV, as well as a CO-OP observer (MINN2) located at Minden, NV, both reported a storm total snowfall of 5.0 inches.
A trained spotter located 1.0 mi SSW of Fernley, NV, reported a storm total snowfall of 5.5 inches.
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, 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: 1086310, 1086314, 1086315.