An otherwise major winter storm that pushed through the region closed out the Month of February. This storm increased the potential for damaging winds (gusts 55+ mph) February 29 that preceded the passage of a strong cold front through the region March 1.
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.
An otherwise major winter storm that pushed through the region closed out the Month of February. This storm increased the potential for damaging winds (gusts 55+ mph) February 29 that preceded the passage of a strong cold front through the region March 1.
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 29, 3:15 AM PST, 8 hours 38 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
315 AM PST Thu Feb 29 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
The well-advertised major winter storm bringing widespread, strong
winds and heavy snow starts today and lasts into the weekend. Sierra
travel will be treacherous, with a period of life-threatening
blizzard conditions sandwiched in for Friday afternoon through
Saturday morning. Travel is highly discouraged in these conditions.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Significant Winter Storm arrives today and impacts the region
through the weekend:
Models show that the upper air pattern has not changed too much from
previous forecast runs and continue to show pretty good agreement
amongst them. The CWA starts today underneath the area between an
upper air ridge departing to the east and an upper air trough in the
Pacific Northwest. An upper air low develops off the coast of BC by
Thursday evening keeping the CWA underneath a strong west-
southwesterly upper air flow. This flow over the CWA expects to
continue through Friday with the low progressing to just off the
coast of southern BC. For Saturday, models have the low opening back
into a trough during the day and has its axis move over the CWA by
Saturday evening with a strong jet streak seen moving through the
base of the trough. On Sunday, forecast guidance depicts the CWA
taking a more west-northwesterly flow as the trough moves eastward
over the western CONUS.
As a result of this upper air setup, models still have a cold front
pushing through the CWA beginning this afternoon allowing for
southwesterly winds to increase dramatically during the day. For the
NV portion of the CWA, latest NBM probabilities for greater than 48
kts (55 mph) wind gusts ranges between 70-90% for a large portion of
that area with some portions having around 40-50% chances for 56 kts
or greater. This well backs the current High Wind Warning in effect
for the area throughout the day (please see this product for
additional details). Blowing dust reducing visibilities down one
mile or less is also possible in these areas today as a result. As
for the Sierra portion of the CWA, snow chances look to begin in
northeastern CA during the morning hours with the approaching cold
front and spread to over the state border by the afternoon hours. P-
type looks to be mostly snow for higher elevations while the lower
elevations may see rain during the day that transitions to snow
overnight. Snowfall rates may range between 1-3 inches per hour at
time for the Sierra region which may cause some potential
blizzard/whiteout conditions with the expected winds in the area.
On Friday through early Sunday: the Winter Storm looks to continue
through the Sierra region though signs point to it intensifying
during Friday evening through Saturday morning where snowfall rates
may increase to 3-5 inches per hour which in combination with strong
winds will create very dangerous blizzard conditions. Continuing to
see storm snowfall totals when all is said and done as follows: for
NE CA: 1-3 feet for western Lassen County (6-14 inches along Hwy
395); Plumas & Sierra counties, Tahoe Basin to Sonora Pass: 2-5 feet
Sierra communities, 4-8 feet above 6500 feet; Mono County south of
Sonora Pass: 1-3 feet for Highway 395 communities and 3-6 feet along
Sierra crest. Locally higher amounts may be possible as well, but
snow may be difficult to measure due to the strong winds. As for far
western NV, snow levels will down to the valley floors early Friday
morning allowing for a potential few inches of snow before the
levels rise during the day turning P-type to rain. By Friday night,
P-type turns back to snow allowing for the potential for some better
snowfall accumulation going through Saturday. Latest NBM guidance
continues to have a 50-80% probability of Reno-Carson City and the
surrounding valleys seeing 8 inches of snow and even a 30-50% chance
of one foot or more. Foothills locations including Virginia City
will easily exceed one foot (80-90% chance) with slightly increased
chances (50-60%) of exceeding 2 feet. For the eastern portions of
the CWA, snowfall chances are also seen on Friday and Saturday
though chances for one inch or more of accumulation ranges between
30-50% in lower portions of Mineral and Pershing counties with
higher elevation areas seeing chances for a few more inches of
accumulation possible (generally 10-30% of 4 inches or greater).
Models also show some wind gusts approaching possibly 50 mph
particularly in Mineral County on Saturday that merit watching in
case a High Wind product is needed. Chances for snow look to taper
off by late Sunday for western NV while the Sierra region may see
some continued lingering light snow showers that may not yield much
additional snowfall accumulation.
Bottom line: this winter storm will cause very dangerous and
possibly life-threatening conditions starting today and going
through the weekend. Travel is not advised especially in the Sierra
Mountain region. For more information regarding this winter storm
including the ongoing Blizzard Warning in the Sierra Mountains as
well as the Winter Storm Warning for the Reno-Carson City-Minden
area as well as Surprise Valley and Northern Washoe county in effect
over the next few days: please see www.weather.gov/rev/winter. The
latest forecast snowfall amounts can be found here as well. Please
be weather aware and stay safe during this significant winter storm!
Another round of wintry precipitation possible to begin the work
week:
Following a brief break after the major winter storm late Sunday,
forecast models do continue to show the possibility for another
winter weather system impacting western portions of the CWA
beginning Monday that may last until midweek as long term models
depict another upper air trough moving through the Pacific
Northwest. Early indications still show that this will not be as
strong as the previous winter storm, but it merits watching as it
has the potential to yield some additional snowfall.
-078
&&
.AVIATION...
VFR conditions are expected during the early morning hours today at
all terminals, but are expected to deteriorate later this morning
and into the afternoon hours as snowfall chances begin at all
terminals with a major winter system impacting the region. Strong
south-southwesterly surface winds are anticipated to accompany this
storm throughout today along with LLWS at all terminals which will
cause difficult flying conditions. These winds will also cause
blowing snow/potential blizzard conditions that expect to cause IFR
and LIFR visibilities to the Sierra terminals later today and
through the night while the western NV terminals might see MVFR
visibilities at this time. Will continue to monitor and amend TAFs
as needed as this is a very tricky forecast with many different
variables to consider.
-078
&&
.AVALANCHE...
MAJOR WINTER STORM TODAY-SUNDAY: Continued high confidence exists
for very strong winds (ridge top gusts 100+ mph) combined with
prolonged heavy snowfall rates (1-3 inches per hour) to start
later this morning and continue into the weekend. Periods of
blizzard conditions are likely Friday afternoon through Saturday
morning with snow rates of 3-5"/hour not being out of the
question. Snowfall totals of 4-8 feet are possible along the
Sierra crest with 2-5 feet possible for Lake Tahoe communities and
areas near/west of US-395 in Mono County. Highest snow totals
will be north of Sonora Pass. Snow ratios will start around
10:1-13:1 Thursday but will increase to 13:1-16:1 tonight through
Saturday. Snow amounts will be difficult to measure as
considerable drifting will occur with strong winds. QPF values
during this storm period continue range between 4 to 8 inches with
the Sierra crest seeing the higher end of the range.
-078
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...High Wind Warning from 7 AM this morning to 10 PM PST this
evening NVZ003-005.
Winter Storm Warning from 10 PM this evening to 4 PM PST
Saturday NVZ005.
Blizzard Warning from 10 AM this morning to 10 AM PST Sunday
NVZ002.
High Wind Warning from 10 AM this morning to 4 AM PST Friday
NVZ001-004.
Winter Storm Warning from 10 PM this evening to 10 PM PST
Saturday NVZ003.
CA...High Wind Warning from 7 AM this morning to 10 PM PST this
evening CAZ070.
Winter Storm Warning from 10 PM this evening to 4 PM PST
Saturday CAZ070.
Blizzard Warning until 4 AM PST Sunday CAZ071.
Blizzard Warning from 10 AM this morning to 10 AM PST Sunday
CAZ072.
Blizzard Warning from 4 PM this afternoon to 10 AM PST Sunday
CAZ073.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Mesonet station (LDRC1-Ladder Butte) located 17.0 mi S of Pittville, CA, reported peak wind gust of 62 mph.
Mesonet station located at Palisades Tahoe summit, CA, reported a peak wind gust of 145 mph.
Mesonet station (MTH01-MAMMOTH) located 0.9 mi S of Mammoth Mountain, CA reported a peak wind gust of 105 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2024
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: 1166654, 1166655, 1166656.