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; 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 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, 2:49 AM PST, 5 hours 11 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
249 AM PST Sun Feb 26 2023
.SYNOPSIS...
A cold and stormy period continues as we close out February and
look toward the beginning of March. Anticipate multiple rounds of
snow at all elevations leading to widespread travel difficulties,
especially in the Sierra. Periods of enhanced breezy conditions
will make it feel that much colder. Bundle up and protect
populations and pets that are vulnerable to these wintry
conditions.
&&
.DISCUSSION…
Satellite imagery shows the center of cut-off low pressure
circulation that has brought our most recent round of winter
conditions slowly progressing southeast and east into southern
California. Moisture wrapping around to the north and northwest is
bringing lower ceilings and light precipitation to parts of the
Great Basin and eastern Sierra this morning. This low pressure
system is looking to eject east across southern Nevada into the four-
corners region. A weak progressive upper ridge will tag-along
quickly behind the outgoing winter system with the upper flow
increasing from the southwest ahead of the next upstream upper wave
expected later today.
This next weaker winter wave will be the preamble to a much
stronger Pacific winter system that will be strengthening over the
Gulf of Alaska today before driving into the western US Monday
morning. But this weaker predecessor will still bring periods of
moderate snowfall to northeast California this morning. Snow will
spread southeast across the Sierra this afternoon before
lightening up into just light snow showers overnight tonight into
early Monday before a more potent system barrels in later Monday
morning. Higher elevation areas over northeast California west of
US-395 should see accumulations close to a foot plus though today
with areas to the east seeing 2-5 inches of new snow below 5000
feet elevation. The Lake Tahoe basin below 7000 feet has a good
chance (60-70%) to receive 6-8 inches of newly accumulated snow.
Even with the limited spillover with this system, some foothill
areas above 5000 feet could see an inch or two of snow with
limited accumulations in lower valley areas of far western Nevada.
Ridge top winds gusting to 70-80 mph will still bring a brisk
feel to temperatures felt by those recreating in the Sierra today.
* A significant winter storm is expected to impact the Sierra Monday
into Wednesday.
* Blizzard Warnings have been issued for eastern Sierra zones Monday
through Tuesday night due to the combination of heavy snowfall and
gusty winds producing periods of near zero visibility over the
Sierra.
All eyes on what looks to be a formidable Pacific winter system that
will bring a potpourri of significant winter impacts to the Sierra
and western Nevada Monday through Wednesday as heavy snow and gusty
winds slam into the region. The upper low pressure system spinning
into the Pacific Northwest will swing a stronger negatively tilted
upper wave into the Sierra and western Nevada. This upper system
will setup a volatile mix of colder, more moist maritime air,
stronger mid-level winds, instability, and increased dynamic forcing
from the exit region of a 150kt jet core. These factors when
combined with heavy snow, strong gusty ridge top winds to 100 mph,
and higher snow ratios could bring brief near zero visibility
blizzard conditions to the Sierra Monday afternoon through Tuesday.
These conditions will make travel over Sierra passes nearly
impossible during this period.
A double shot of higher snowfall rates will occur Monday afternoon
into the evening and again late Tuesday morning into Tuesday night.
Through this duration there is a higher chance (70-80%) of
significant snow accumulations upwards of 4 to 6 feet of snowfall
will be possible along the Sierra crest with 2 to 4 feet for
communities in the Tahoe Basin and eastern Sierra communities west
of US-395 in Mono County. It cannot be reiterated more to expect
widespread impacts for travel across the region becoming hazardous
if not impossible at times.
The airmass will remain cold enough to keep snow levels at all
valley floors across western Nevada on Monday and Tuesday which will
provide accumulating snowfall down in the valleys. Two periods of
spillover snowfall are expected Monday afternoon-evening and also
Tuesday morning into early evening. Due initial snowfall projections
of 4-8 inches for lower valleys during this 2 day period, a Winter
Storm Watch has been posted for the Sierra Front including the Reno,
Carson City, and Carson Valley areas. See the latest Winter Storm
Watch for expected amounts.
This storm will continue yield light to moderate snowfall on the
backside of the low on Wednesday before most snow showers taper off
by Wednesday evening. We will have a small break in this rather
active winter weather pattern Thursday through Friday before another
potential storm system moves through by next weekend. March looks to
enter roaring like a lion for the time being. -Amanda
&&
.AVIATION...
Currently, as a closed low exits the region there are residual snow
showers across the Basin and Range as well as the southern Sierra.
These snow showers will continue to dwindle through the morning
hours, and clearing will begin to take place late Sunday morning.
For now there are IFR/MVFR conditions with mountain obscuration
concerns until this system pulls to the east Sunday afternoon.
Light surface flow out of the south-southwest will be transitioning
to strong and gusty winds Sunday morning. FL100 winds will increase
in and around the Sierra to 40-45 kts by Sunday morning. This
will scour out any low clouds and fog that settled into valleys
overnight. As the winds amplify, new concerns for LLWS and
mountain wave turbulence arrive ahead of the next wave to move
through Sunday evening.
Sunday's storm will be an introductory trial before the next more
potent system arrives Monday. This wave will bring about moderate to
heavy snowfall producing IFR CIGS/VIS as well as a return of LLWS
and turbulence. This round of snowfall will affect Sierra terminals,
with a 70% chance for 4-6" at KTVL/KTRK. Further south, KMMH could
see lighter accumulations of around 2". Western Nevada terminals
will see a break from snowfall with this wave, since little
spillover will materialize.
The system arriving Monday will be much more potent, with heavy
snowfall for the Sierra coupled with gusty winds and low
visibilities. HRICH
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Winter Storm Warning from 10 AM this morning to 10 AM PST Monday
NVZ002.
Blizzard Warning from 10 AM Monday to 4 AM PST Wednesday NVZ002.
Winter Storm Warning until 10 AM PST this morning NVZ001.
Winter Storm Watch from Monday afternoon through late Tuesday
night NVZ003.
CA...Winter Storm Warning from 6 AM this morning to 4 AM PST
Wednesday CAZ071.
Winter Storm Warning from 10 AM this morning to 10 AM PST Monday
CAZ072.
Blizzard Warning from 10 AM Monday to 4 AM PST Wednesday CAZ072.
Winter Storm Warning until 10 AM PST this morning CAZ073.
Blizzard Warning from 1 PM Monday to 4 AM PST Wednesday CAZ073.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 heavy snow, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Mesonet stations located 2.0 mi NNE of Washoe City, NV, 2.0 mi SSE of Verdi, NV, and 1.0 mi SSW of Stead, NV, reported peak wind gusts of 59 mph, 60 mph, and 61 mph respectively.
The public located at the Mount Rose Ski Base and a trained spotter(WA-12) located 1.0 mi NNW of Incline Village both reported a 24 hour snowfall total of 20.0 inches. The public located at the Diamond Peak Ski resort reported 24 hour snowfall totaling 16.0 inches.
A trained spotter located 3.0 mi WSW of Gardnerville Ranch, NV, a CO-OP observer located in Glenbrook, NV, and a social media posting from the public located at Galena Forest, NV, reported 24 hour snowfall totaling 6.5 inches, 7.3 inches, and 11.0 inches respectfully.
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: 1086423, 1086421, 1086422.