After a brief lull on the 15th, this third in the ongoing trio of storm systems pushed quickly through the region on the 16th and early on the 17th. This storm system reached northeast California early morning on the 16th, impacted the Tahoe Basin by mid-late morning through the afternoon of that same date, and diminished as it tracked south into Mono County that evening.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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.
After a brief lull on the 15th, this third in the ongoing trio of storm systems pushed quickly through the region on the 16th and early on the 17th. This storm system reached northeast California early morning on the 16th, impacted the Tahoe Basin by mid-late morning through the afternoon of that same date, and diminished as it tracked south into Mono County that evening. The primary impact with this storm were the gusty winds that increased to 80 mph over Sierra with projected gusts of 30-40 mph in the lower elevation Sierra valleys that mixed down into western Nevada. Snowfall was limited, however, due to its speed and timing during mostly daylight hours. But bursts of moderate to heavy snowfall with rates ranging 0.5-1.0 inch per hour between Lassen County south into the Tahoe Basin. Most snow impacts were concentrated over mountain passes as snow levels started at around 5000 to 6000 feet, then increased to 7000 feet.
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 Dec 15, 1:07 PM PST, 3 hours 31 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Reno NV 107 PM PST Sun Dec 15 2024 .SYNOPSIS... * A quick moving weather system will bring rain, snow and breezy winds Monday. * Valley inversions and areas of fog may return Tuesday to Friday. * An active weather pattern may develop by the start to next weekend with potential for periods of gusty winds, rain, and snow through Christmas. && .DISCUSSION... A quick but potentially dynamic weather system is scheduled to reach northeast California early Monday morning, impact the Tahoe Basin by mid-late Monday morning through the afternoon before diminishing as it tracks south into Mono County Monday evening. Gusty winds are the main impact with gusts of 80 mph or more over Sierra Ridges with 30-40 mph gusts in the lower elevations of the Sierra and across western NV. Plan on impacts to recreation around the Tahoe Basin Monday. Snowfall with this system will be limited by the speed and its arrival during daylight hours. However, simulations show potential for a burst of rain/snow and snowfall rates of 0.5-1 in/hr as the system tracks south between Lassen County and the Tahoe Basin. Rain/snow lines will gradually increase from about 5000-6000 ft to 6000-7000 ft with most snow impacts to mountain passes. Behind this weather system, high pressure will set up over the Great Basin Tuesday with increasing valley inversions. This will limit smoke dispersion for any planned pile burns and allow pollutant build in near urban areas. Looking ahead to next weekend into Christmas, simulations are favoring an active pattern into the west coast. The main storm track with AR moisture appears to be just to our north, but there is medium confidence in at least one or two weather systems impacting the Sierra and western NV during peak holiday travel period. The AR influence and main storm track to our north favors warmer storms with rain/snow lines as high as 7000-9000 ft. Brong && .AVIATION... Quick moving weather system arrives by early Monday morning with mountain wave/turbulence and LLWS across the Sierra and western NV. Rain and snow with MFR/IFR conditions reach western Lassen County by 12 UTC, spreading south into the Tahoe Basin around 15-18 UTC. A burst of heavy snow/rain may impact the Tahoe terminals Monday afternoon. For the western NV terminals including KRNO precipitation chances are 30-50% with light rain as the primary precipitation type. There is about a 10% chance snow will occur at RNO-CXP-MEV with minimal if any accumulation. Behind this system fog may redevelop in northern Sierra valleys including KTRK Tuesday morning. High pressure will also strengthen valley inversions for mid-week. Brong && .REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NV...None. CA...None. &&
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heavy rain, 1 winter weather, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A trained spotter located 4.0 mi W of Gardnerville Ranch, NV, reported 24 hour storm total rainfall of 0.54 inches.
The public located at the Diamond Peak Ski Base, and the public located at the Mount Rose Ski Base both reported 24 hour storm total snowfall amounts of 6.0 inches.
A mesonet station (RRKNV Stead) located 1.0 SSW of Stead, NV, a mesonet station (SR2NV-Lakeviewi) located 1.0 mi NNW of Lakeview, NV, a mesonet station (WASNV-Washoe City) located 3.0 mi SW of New Washoe City, NV, and a mesonet station (Slide) located 1.0 mi ESE of Mount Rose Summit, reported peak wind gusts of 65 mph, 67mph, 68 mph, and 99 mph respectively.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, December 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: 1229663, 1229664, 1229662.