California, 2024

Debris Flows and Heavy Rain in California, July 21 to 22, 2024

July 21 to 22, 2024 · NWS REV · 3 events in 1 county or zone

Isolated shower and thunderstorm chances returned 20 July, and remained mostly south of Highway 50 with Mono-Mineral Counties being the focal points for activity. High-resolution ensemble guidance also showed the best chances for showers and thunderstorms mostly south of highway 50.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS REV wrote it up.

Isolated shower and thunderstorm chances returned 20 July, and remained mostly south of Highway 50 with Mono-Mineral Counties being the focal points for activity. High-resolution ensemble guidance also showed the best chances for showers and thunderstorms mostly south of highway 50. Simulations projected a 30-40% chance for isolated showers and a few storms that would initiate mostly across Mono, southern Lyon, and Mineral counties around 1-2PM. There was also a chance (10-20%) that one or two storms would push northeast into eastern Churchill County as well. Storms quickly tapered off in the evening after sundown. Afternoon west-southwest breezes of 20-30 mph were expected to be slightly enhanced in the vicinity of developing storms. The usual storm related culprits of copious lightning, as well as gusty and erratic outflows accompanied storms across the area.

What forecasters said that day

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 20, 12:17 PM PST, 11 hours 44 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 20, 12:17 PM PST, 11 hours 44 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
117 PM PDT Sat Jul 20 2024

.SYNOPSIS...

* Heat continues into early next week with triple digit highs
  expected for western Nevada valleys.

* Increased storm chances this afternoon across the E.Sierra.
  Heavy rain with isolated flash flood potential mainly across
  area burn scars south of US-50.

* Daily thunderstorm chances continue through early next week.
  Elevated fire weather concerns possible across far NE CA and NW
  NV Sunday afternoon.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

HEAT:

* Temperatures will continue to run 4-8 degrees above mid to late
  July averages this weekend. This will yield high temperatures
  around 100 degrees across western Nevada valleys and upper 80s
  to near 90 for Sierra communities.

* Overnight lows will remain mild as well (10 degrees above avg),
  with W.Nevada valleys only cooling into the upper 60s to low
  70s. This will result in ares of moderate to major HeatRisk so
  be sure sure to take all your necessary heat precautions.

THUNDERSTORMS THIS WEEKEND:

* Afternoon heating and mid-level moisture should be sufficient
  to trigger afternoon thunderstorms with the best coverage
  expected across the eastern Sierra south of US-50. Ample
  moisture aloft (PWAT >0.75") and modest storm motions could
  yield areas of heavy rainfall and localized flash flooding,
  mainly for burn scar areas across E.Alpine, Mono, Douglas, and
  S.Lyon counties.

* Shower and thunderstorm coverage north of US-50 will be in a bit
  of a drier environment which could be more prone to strong and
  gusty outflow winds. DCAPES of 1500-2000 J/kg could produce
  strong outflow winds in excess of 60 mph which could result in
  areas of reduced visibility in blowing dust if these outflows
  move across desert sinks and dry lake beds.

* As moisture infiltrates farther northward on Sunday, storm
  chances will increase across the Sierra Front into portions of
  E.Modoc and far northern Washoe county. These storms should
  maintain elevated cloud bases and storm motions >20 knots so the
  threat of isolated dry lightning strikes and new fire ignitions
  will remain present through Sunday.

OUTLOOK NEXT WEEK:

* Above average heat with triple digits highs across western
  Nevada valleys looks to persist through the middle of next week
  before temperatures cool back towards season normals.

* Our above average heating will allow for daily chances of
  afternoon showers and thunderstorms to continue at least through
  Wednesday. Then a drier southwest flow associated with a
  shortwave trough will attempt to push in around the Thursday
  timeframe. As this shortwave nudges inland it could yield in an
  increase to our southwest winds. Fuentes

&&

.AVIATION...

* Afternoon showers and thunderstorm chances will prevail across
  the E.Sierra and far W.Nevada terminals today after 21z. 30-40%
  chances across KTVL and KTRK with 20-30% chances for KRNO, KCXP,
  KMEV and 40-50% chances across KMMH. These storms will be
  capable of brief periods of MVFR/IFR conditions with periods of
  heavy rainfall, small hail, and frequent lightning at times.

* Strong and gusty outflow winds are possible this afternoon which
  could send strong outflows across basin and range terminals
  including KLOL, KNFL, and KHTH. Outflows in excess of 50kts
  could result in sudden reductions to visibility due to areas of
  blowing dust downwind of desert sinks and dry lake beds.

* Daily afternoon shower/storm chances will continue into the
  first half of next week with the best potential existing south
  of US-50. Drier air will then attempt to move in for the second
  half of next week. Fuentes

&&

.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Heat Advisory until 8 PM PDT Monday NVZ004-005.

CA...None.

&&

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 20, 10:42 PM PST, 1 hour 19 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Reno NV
1142 PM PDT Sat Jul 20 2024

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0937 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     13 ESE Empire           40.50N 119.12W
07/20/2024  M59 MPH          Pershing           NV   Mesonet

            Mesonet station BLUN2 Bluewing Mountain.

0939 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 ESE Lake City         41.62N 120.16W
07/20/2024  M53 MPH          Modoc              CA   Mesonet

            Mesonet station SSYC1 Surprise Valley.

0726 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     3 ENE Stagecoach        39.38N 119.32W
07/20/2024  M52 MPH          Lyon               NV   Mesonet

            Mesonet station STGNV 2.8 E Stagecoach (NV
            DOT).

0747 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     15 ENE Wabuska          39.26N 118.94W
07/20/2024  M52 MPH          Churchill          NV   Mesonet

            Mesonet station DEDN2 Dead Camel Mountain.

0836 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     9 SSW Lovelock          40.07N 118.57W
07/20/2024  M52 MPH          Pershing           NV   ASOS

            ASOS station KLOL Lovelock.

0550 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 NW Reno               39.56N 119.85W
07/20/2024  M49 MPH          Washoe             NV   Mesonet

            Mesonet station NV013 Northwest Reno.

0856 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     10 NNE Trinity Junction 40.06N 118.65W
07/20/2024  M49 MPH          Pershing           NV   Mesonet

            Mesonet station TOUNV 10.1 NE Trinity
            Junction (NV DOT).

0953 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     5 ESE Gardnerville      38.92N 119.64W
07/20/2024  M48 MPH          Douglas            NV   Mesonet

            Mesonet station FISN2 Fish Springs.

0510 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 W Stewart             39.12N 119.78W
07/20/2024  M47 MPH          Carson City        NV   Mesonet

            Mesonet station JCTNV 1.0 W Stewart (NV
            DOT).

0639 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     5 NNE Schurz            39.05N 118.79W
07/20/2024  M46 MPH          Mineral            NV   Mesonet

            Mesonet station SRZNV 4.6 NE Schurz (NV
            DOT).

0747 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     6 ESE Patrick           39.52N 119.48W
07/20/2024  M46 MPH          Storey             NV   Mesonet

            Mesonet station PKYNV 5.8 E Patrick (NV
            DOT).

0549 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     6 NW Hawthorne          38.59N 118.71W
07/20/2024  M45 MPH          Mineral            NV   Mesonet

            Mesonet station WLKNV 6.1 NW Hawthorne (NV
            DOT).

0705 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 NNW Lakeview          39.23N 119.81W
07/20/2024  M45 MPH          Washoe             NV   Mesonet

            Mesonet station SR2NV 1.3 NW Lakeview (NV
            DOT).

&&

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 debris flow, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Mono

When
July 21, 12:01 AM PST to 11:00 PM PST
Where
Mono County, 2.22 mi NW of Mono Lake to 3.1 mi SW of Bridgeport
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
38.023, -119.179

A mesonet stations UNDC1(LUNDY) located 4.0 mi S of Conway Summit, CA, and CBVA (DRI) located 3.1 mi SW of Bridgeport, CA, reported a total rainfall amount of 1.72 inches and 0.75 inches respectively.

Debris Flow, Mono

When
July 21, 2:51 PM PST to 3:51 PM PST
Where
Mono County, 9.21 mi S of Walker to 9.26 mi S of Walker
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
38.389, -119.452

Law enforcement reported mud, dirt , and rock around Lat/Lon: 38.388461, -119.452176 about 2.0 mi north of the Sonora junction of SR108/US-395.

Debris Flow, Mono

When
July 22, 1:13 AM PST
Where
Mono County, 5.33 mi NNW of Mono Lake to 5.38 mi NNW of Mono Lake
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
38.074, -119.177

Law enforcement reported minor flooding/debris flow 1.0 mi S of Conway Summit, CA, with rocks and a large boulder in the northbound lane of US-395.

What these are

Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
Debris Flow
A fast-moving slurry of mud, rock and debris, usually on a slope soaked by heavy rain or stripped by a fire.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in California in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in California, July 2024

Sources

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1206789, 1206825, 1206788.