Another atmospheric river pounded the Desert Southwest, bringing heavy mountain snow and lower elevation flooding to southern Nevada.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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 VEF wrote it up.
Another atmospheric river pounded the Desert Southwest, bringing heavy mountain snow and lower elevation flooding to southern Nevada.
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 Las Vegas, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 14, 2:00 AM PST, 4 hours earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 300 AM PDT Tue Mar 14 2023 .SYNOPSIS...Another atmospheric river event will bring widespread rain and high elevation snow along with areas of strong winds to the southwest states today and Wednesday. Dry weather will follow the rest of the week but additional Pacific moisture will provide chances for unsettled weather late in the weekend. && .SHORT TERM...Today through Wednesday. The incoming Pacific System could be seen on satellite imagery with a broad deep moisture plume spreading over central and southern California and will be directed into the southern Sierra this morning with precipitation likely spilling into the Owens Valley after sunrise. QPF amounts in the Owens Valley have not changed much and most likely will be in the 0.50-1.00" range though the latest high res models have indicated more limited precipitation due to terrain shadowing than seems warranted given abundant moisture and 12-24 duration of precipitation. Flooding concerns in the Owens Valley continue to be subdued given the latest guidance, but will be monitoring closely. This atmospheric river will be more progressive than the one last week as it is pushed inland with a southwest-northeast orientation on the leading edge of an eastern Pacific trough which was phasing with another trough to the north swinging into the Pacific northwest. This progression will allow the combination of deep moisture and dynamic forcing from the trough to spread precipitation across all of our forecast area today through Wednesday though much of it will be intercepted by the southern Sierra and southern California coastal mountains. In spite of that, plenty of moisture will slip through the gap between the two ranges and the latest QPF amounts now indicate the Spring Mountains will see up to 2.5 inches of liquid equivalent precip with heavy snow above 9000 feet likely resulting in up to two feet on the peaks above 9000 feet. Snow amounts are more uncertain in Kyle and Lee Canyons due to snow levels remaining around 8500 feet until Wednesday morning then lowering to around 7000 feet by Wednesday afternoon as precipitation tapers off. The Winter Weather Advisory still looks appropriate since heavy snow looks like it will occur above most roads, though the upper reaches of Lee Canyon road are more questionable. Will continue to evaluate. QPF amounts have come up for other areas of higher terrain around southern Nevada and northwest Arizona with amounts generally 0.1-0.50" and 0.50-1.0" over Lincoln and Mohave counties. The Las Vegas Valley most likely will see amounts 0.1- 0.25". The other weather impact will be gusty south-southwest winds. A Wind Advisory is in effect from 11 AM PDT today until 11 am PDT Wednesday for Death Valley, Nye/Esmeralda/Lincoln counties as the latest HREF supports the NBM indicating fairly widespread areas of gusts over 40 mph over these areas this afternoon through tonight then gradually decreasing Wednesday morning. .LONG TERM...Thursday through Monday A ridge develops over the western United States once the current storm system moves east. The ridge should send the atmospheric river away from the forecast area, keeping conditions mostly dry. Shortwave disturbances moving along the ridging pattern combined with some moisture left behind by the previous system may lead to cloud cover and periods of light precipitation, but without a substantial moisture source measurable amounts at the surface are unlikely. It appears that the better opportunity for precipitation will be over the weekend as the ridge breaks down and roughly zonal flow reaches the southwest United States, but will have to continue to see how the setup evolves. Both the GFS and ECMWF IVT show better vapor transport later in the weekend and into Monday, rather than earlier in the weekend with earlier runs as the breakdown of the ridge is delayed. Besides that, unseasonably cool temperatures remain across the area through the weekend as a colder airmass stays in place. && .AVIATION...For Harry Reid...South to southwesterly (170-230) will be the favored direction throughout the day today and into Wednesday. Wind speeds will increase throughout the morning, with 25- 30 knot wind gusts expected between 18Z and 00Z. After 00Z, wind gusts will begin to gradually decrease as we head into the evening hours. Showers will begin to move into the area as early as 18Z and will remain in the vicinity through 06Z. The most likely window for the airport itself to be impacted by precipitation will be between 20Z and 00Z. Low clouds will accompany these showers with CIGS around 5-8 kft likely after 18Z. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...KVGT and KHND will follow similar trends to KLAS, with southwesterly winds increasing throughout the morning before 20-30 knot gusts kick in around 18Z. Showers will also begin to move into the Las Vegas Valley during this time with the potential for rain to impact KVGT and KHND between 18Z and 00Z. 5-8 kft CIGS are expected to accompany these showers. For KBIH, variable winds will become southeasterly with 20-25 knot gusts kicking in around 16Z. Additionally, showers and 5-8 kft CIGS will begin to move into the KBIH vicinity around 16Z, with the most likely window for rain falling at the airport being 18Z-00Z. Westerly winds will become southwesterly later this morning at KDAG, with 15-25 knot gusts picking up around 20Z. Showers will move into the vicinity around 17Z before light rain becomes the prevailing weather type from 20Z to 02Z. 5-8 kft CIGS will accompany these showers at KDAG. KEED and KIFP will favor a more southerly direction into the evening hours with 15-20 knot gusts picking up around 20Z. Vicinity showers will be possible at both Colorado River Valley TAF sites as early as 21Z with showers expected at KIFP beginning around 22Z and continuing through 02Z. 5-8 kft CIGS are expected to accompany this showery activity in the vicinity of KEED and KIFP. Showers should begin to clear out of the Colorado River Valley around 03Z Wednesday. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && SHORT TERM...Adair LONG TERM...Meltzer AVIATION...Stessman For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter
The Las Vegas radar (KESX), 176 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:35 UTC.
8 flood, 2 flash flood, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
The Bristlecone Trail SNOTEL estimated 18 inches of new snow.
Highway 322 was damaged due to flooding of the Meadow Valley Wash. The road fully reopened in late May.
Water flowed over Spring Mountain Ranch Road.
Highway 317 was closed due to flooding of the Meadow Valley Wash.
Moderate rain in the higher elevations plus melting snow flooded Highway 159 in multiple places between Calico Basin Road and Blue Diamond Road.
Water and debris flooded Bruce Woodbury Drive, Needles Highway, Casino Drive, and the Edgewater parking lot and garage. The floor of the Tropicana Casino also flooded.
The Muddy River flooded Warm Springs Road with water, mud, and debris.
Highway 160 was flooded.
Spring Valley State Park was closed due to the Meadow Valley Wash flooding and damaging roads leading to the park.
Highway 319 was closed from Highway 93 to Panaca due to flooding of the Meadow Valley Wash.
Delmue Ranch Road was badly damaged by flooding of the Meadow Valley Wash.
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, March 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: 1091432, 1091434, 1091435, 1091436, 1091437, 1091438, 1091439, 1091440, 1091441, 1091443, 1091444.