A moderate to strong southwest flow aloft and daytime heating enhanced afternoon and evening breezes with gusts in the 20-30 mph range with higher gusts in wind prone areas. These breezy conditions brought periods of isolated critical fire weather conditions, and choppy conditions across area lakes.
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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.
A moderate to strong southwest flow aloft and daytime heating enhanced afternoon and evening breezes with gusts in the 20-30 mph range with higher gusts in wind prone areas. These breezy conditions brought periods of isolated critical fire weather conditions, and choppy conditions across area lakes.
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 Jul 26, 12:48 PM PST, 10 hours 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
148 PM PDT Wed Jul 26 2023
.SYNOPSIS...
Critical fire weather conditions are expected this afternoon and
into the evening due to gusty winds and very low humidity. Periods
of choppy waters on area lakes are also possible this afternoon.
Seasonable heat and breezy winds linger through the week and over
the weekend. Chances for showers and thunderstorms may return next
week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Southwest gusts up to 30-40 mph coupled with RH in the single
digits to mid-teens are anticipated this afternoon and evening,
warranting an upgrade to a Red Flag Warning for portions of NE
California and NW Nevada. Latest surface observations reflect a
very dry airmass in place, characterized by RH of 8-15% across NE
California into W Nevada. Southwest winds have been trending
stronger in the last hour or so, suggesting an increasing fire
weather threat that will peak during the mid-afternoon hours.
Critical fire weather conditions will persist into the early
evening before winds eventually subside. Avoid activities that may
cause an ignition and have several ways to receive wildfire
alerts! For additional fire weather info, please refer to the Fire
Weather section below.
Dry southwesterly flow aloft will continue to overspread the
Sierra and western Nevada through the rest of the week as we
remain positioned between high pressure to the southeast and
troughing to the northwest. With minimal change to the synoptic
regime, seasonable late-July heat, very dry weather, and typical
afternoon breezes will round out the week and carry over into the
weekend. Daily highs for western Nevada valleys will continue to
run in the 90s while Sierra communities reach the 80s. Be sure to
stay hydrated and plan strenuous outdoor activities for the
morning or evening. Gusty afternoon winds will prevail in the next
several days with strongest winds expected Saturday. As such,
Saturday will be another day to keep a close eye on fire weather-
wise.
Looking ahead to next week, ensembles hint at an increase in shower
and thunderstorm potential as moisture is drawn northward around the
western periphery of the upper high. However, blended guidance only
paints a 5-15% chance of storms through midweek with best odds
favoring areas south of US-50. Otherwise, typical daytime heat
will stick around as the calendar turns to August.
-Salas
&&
.AVIATION...
Widespread VFR conditions will prevail under clear skies,
accompanied by gusty southwest winds up to 25-35 kts this afternoon.
Southwest FL100 winds will strengthen tonight as a 40-50 kt jet
overspreads Sierra and western Nevada terminals. LLWS and mountain
wave turbulence may be common from the Tahoe Basin eastward into
western Nevada into Thursday morning, particularly between 07Z
and 15Z. Thereafter, expect another day of VFR conditions and
typical afternoon breezes.
-Salas
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Prolonged breezy weather amid warm and very dry conditions typical
for late July will further cure regional vegetation in valley and
foothill locations. Fortunately, heavier fuels remain saturated
enough to preclude a greater fire concern for the Sierra despite
favorable fire weather conditions, at least until live fuel
moistures in dense mountain vegetation decline closer to critical
levels.
Overnight recovery will be quite poor each night with humidity
struggling to exceed 30-40% for valley and mid-slope locales. Each
afternoon through the weekend will feature breezy conditions and
very low humidity, maintaining elevated fire weather concerns
through this timeframe. Saturday afternoon appears to be the next
opportunity for critical fire weather conditions as winds ramp up.
For next week, chances for thunderstorms increase slightly as
moisture aloft filters into the region. Odds are only around 5-15%
per blended guidance, favoring areas generally south of US-50.
Still, it's worth keeping in mind as we head into the first week
of August.
-Salas
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Red Flag Warning until 9 PM PDT this evening NVZ420-423-458.
Lake Wind Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening NVZ003-004.
CA...Red Flag Warning until 9 PM PDT this evening CAZ270-278.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Mesonet station (SLIDE) located 0.9 mi ESE of the Mount Rose Summit (DRI) reported a maximum wind gust of 68 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, July 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: 1140630.