Weak instability lead to a few isolated thunderstorms across Nevada. These storms went on to produce some gusty outflow winds.
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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 LKN wrote it up.
Weak instability lead to a few isolated thunderstorms across Nevada. These storms went on to produce some gusty outflow winds.
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 Elko, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 4, 1:20 AM PST, 10 hours 4 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Elko NV 220 AM PDT Thu May 4 2023 .SYNOPSIS... Weather becomes quite active today thru Saturday with measurable valley rain and high mountain snow all three days. Thunderstorms are also in the forecast with small hail and gusty winds expected. Conditions remain unsettled into next week although activity will likely be more modest. && .SHORT TERM...Today through Friday Night Scattered to numerous valley rain showers and isolated thunderstorms, along with snow over the mountains, move into the forecast area today from the south. This is thanks to a robust upper low that has been situated along the California coast moving inland, tracking northeast across Nevada. The low will bring ample forcing and Pacific moisture with it and valley rain totals look to be between a few hundredths of an inch to around 0.35". The greatest totals are to be focused across northern Nevada. Forecast soundings indicate environmental conditions that will be conducive for thunderstorms to produce small hail and erratic and gusty winds with gusts of 40+ mph. Otherwise gradient surface winds will be southwesterly and breezy. Showers will persist overnight as well with activity again greatest across northern Nevada. Snow levels look to lower to 6000'-6500' by the early morning hours and a few snow flakes may be in the air for those who reside in the higher valleys and across pass/summit routes, though no significant accumulation is anticipated with significant accumulating snow remaining relegated to the higher elevations. Look for daytime high temperatures to be in the mid 50s to mid 60s and overnight lows in the mid 20s to mid 30s. Friday will see a continuation of valley rain showers and mountain snow with isolated thunderstorms again expected during the afternoon. Similar to Thursday, valley rain totals are expected to range between a few hundredths of an inch to around 0.35" with the greatest totals across northern Nevada. Small hail and strong and erratic wind gusts will continue to be a concern with thunderstorms. Gradient surface winds will again be breezy but are expected to be lighter than Thursday with winds trending light overnight. Showers will also ease some overnight with generally isolated to scattered activity expected. Snow levels by the early morning hours of the overnight will again lower enough that a few flakes may be present across the higher valleys and pass/summit routes with no significant accumulation. Daytime high temperatures will be in the upper 40s to upper 50s with overnight lows in the mid 20s to mid 30s. Snow accumulation across the high mountains for Thursday and Friday combined looks to be on the order of several inches. Some peaks across northern Nevada are anticipated to see over a foot. && .LONG TERM...Saturday through next Thursday Weather will remain unsettled through the middle of next week as a deep trough digs into the region causing a series of upper level lows to move through northern Nevada. Valley rain showers and mountain snow accumulations are expected Saturday and Sunday with total rainfall amounts in the valleys ranging from 0.10" to 0.25" during this time. A 60% chance exists that the QPF in valley locations will fall between 0.10" and 0.25" Saturday with a 15% chance between those values on Sunday. It is important to note that confidence remains high that sufficient CAPE and wind shear will cause afternoon and evening thunderstorms both days. High temperatures Saturday and Sunday will struggle to reach the 50s with lows in the 30s. Snowfall accumulations are expected both days in the mountains. Snow levels will decrease into Sunday morning to allow snow accumulations on the higher passes. A brief dry period is expected Monday morning into the early afternoon hours before a fast moving upper level low crosses northern Nevada. It will cause a return of thunderstorms in addition to scattered snow and rain showers through late Tuesday morning with the greatest chance north of I-80 and east of HWY 93. The chances of QPF amounts Monday exceeding 0.10" is 20% with the greatest QPF in Elko and White Pine counties. Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon and evening will continue to see a slight chance of thunderstorms in addition to valley rain showers and mountain snow showers. High temperatures will rise into the 60s and lows in the upper 30s. && .AVIATION...VFR and MVFR conditions are expected through the early afternoon hours. Wind speeds will again increase out of the S and SW during the late morning, though winds will be stronger across the central TAF terminals. All sites may see ISOLD -TSRA in the morning with SCT-TSRA -SHRA during the afternoon. KTPH remains AMD NOT SKED. && .HYDROLOGY...Rivers, creeks, and streams continue to experience high and swift flows as record breaking snowpack continues to melt from central and northern Nevada mountains. A cooling trend is causing the snowpack to melt slower thru Friday with overnight lows expected to reach below freezing for some locales. However, also consider that active weather over the next few days will provide ample rainfall to make up for any slow down in melt rate along with adding several inches of fresh snow to the high mountain snowpack. A slight warm up begins Saturday and persists into early next week. Do not drive thru flooded areas as roadways may be damaged or completely washed away under flood waters. Wet areas can also be very muddy and readily trap and strand vehicles. Report any flooding to local law enforcement and obey any road closures. Exposure to cold melt waters from mountain runoff can cause hypothermia quickly, especially if exposure is prolonged. Flood Warnings remain in effect for the Humboldt River at Battle Mountain and Comus, Salmon Falls Creek near San Jacinto, the Bruneau river at Rowland and for Marys river Near Deeth. Flood Advisories continue for the Owyhee River near Mountain City, Maggie Creek Near Carlin, and the Humboldt River at Palisade. && .LKN Watches/Warnings/Advisories... None. && 92/89/86
The Elko radar (KLRX), 217 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:40 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Station (BKRNV) US-6 @ SR487 Baker ndot, Elevation 5613 feet. Resulting from outflow of a nearby thunderstorm.
Station (ALRN2) Antelope Lake Raws, Elevation 5640 feet.
Station (PPRNV) I-80 Pilot Ndot, Elevation 4651 feet.
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, May 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: 1085639, 1085635, 1085636.