Heavy Snow and High Wind in Nevada, February 27 to 28, 2023

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Elko NV
201 AM PST Mon Feb 27 2023

.SYNOPSIS...Active winter weather will continue through midweek
with several disturbances moving through the region bringing
periods of snow and stronger winds. Temperatures will remain well
below normal through much of the week with drier conditions
emerging later this week. The period of dry weather may be brief
as another winter system looks to be brewing for next weekend.

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.SHORT TERM...Today and Tuesday.

A pair of winter systems will impact the silver state for the next
couple of days. The first of these is already producing light snow
showers across the silver state. As it continues to pass across
the region it will likely produce and additional one to three
inches for the NV valleys. The mountains will see more snow with
amounts most likely between half and a full foot of additional
snowfall. The second system will arrive right on heels of the
first system with no to only brief break in the snowfall. This
second system will bring heavier snowfall leading to increased
snow accumulations compared to the first system. The valleys will
likely see between 2 to 5 inches of new snowfall. localized
valley areas near the mountain ranges with favorable alignment of
upslope lift can see even higher snowfall amounts. the mountains
themselves will likely see and additional half to full foot of
more snowfall with this second system. The passage of both
systems will cause gusty winds across the whole of the silver
state. Gusts will average in the 30s to 40s mph range with some
stronger gusts in the 50s mph range. The winds will finally weaken
from north to south during the afternoon to the overnight hours
of Tuesday. These gusty winds will cause blowing and drifting snow
through both today and Tuesday. Icy road conditions and difficult
travel conditions are expected through Tuesday due to the
snowfall, blowing/drifting snow, and strong gusty winds. Since
the expected impacts of the second system will be on par if not
greater than the current ongoing system so the Winter Weather
Advisory has been extended to cover Tuesday as well as today. The
passage of both these system will cause the temperatures to fall
for the next couple of days. Highs will likely be in the 20s to
30s with lows in the single digits to tens.

.LONG TERM...Wednesday through next Sunday

The deep trof in the West will finish moving across the state on
Wednesday and by evening Nevada will be on the backside of the
system. Showers will be more concentrated in central Nevada, where
another 1 to 3 inches in the valleys is possible. Northwest winds
of 15 to 30 mph will gust to 45 mph in the afternoon into the
evening, creating blowing and drifting of the recent snowfall.
Highs will cool into the 20's to lower 30's as most valleys will
not reach the freezing mark. Much cooler lows are expected on
Wednesday night, with single digits expected in most valleys, and
single digits below zero in the coldest valleys.

A shortwave ridge will move through on Thursday, though a
shortwave could clip very northeast Nevada and bring a few
mountain showers along with some gusty winds there. Overall
though, Thursday and Friday will be dry with continued below
normal temperatures. This will be short lived, however, as the
next system begins to move in as early as Saturday evening with
snow showers and wind continuing through the weekend.

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AVIATION...Periods of passing snow showers will result in VFR to
LIFR conditions, during heavy snow showers, at KWMC, KBAM, KEKO
and KELY through the next 24 hours. Gusty winds are expected at
KWMC, KBAM, KEKO and KELY through the next 24 hours. VFR
conditions are expected at KTPH through the next 24 hours.

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.LKN Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 4 AM PST
Wednesday Humboldt County...Northern Elko County...Northern
Lander County and Northern Eureka County...Ruby Mountains and
East Humboldt Range...South Central Elko County...Southern
Lander County and Southern Eureka County...Southwest Elko
County...White Pine County.

Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 4 AM PST Tuesday
Northeastern Nye County...Northwestern Nye County.

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