A stronger storm arrived Sierra and western Nevada during the night of 23rd that brought gusty winds, valley rain, and heavier mountain snowfall through Christmas Eve. Snowfall totals trended upwards, but chances of 6+ inches and 12+inches of snow along the Sierra crest by Christmas morning remained in excess of 70% and 40%, respectively.
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.
A stronger storm arrived Sierra and western Nevada during the night of 23rd that brought gusty winds, valley rain, and heavier mountain snowfall through Christmas Eve. Snowfall totals trended upwards, but chances of 6+ inches and 12+inches of snow along the Sierra crest by Christmas morning remained in excess of 70% and 40%, respectively. Meanwhile, there was a 20-30% chance that local foothills to include Virginia City would see at least a dusting of snow. Gusty southwest to west winds returned late on the 23rd into Christmas Eve with most locales having a 40% or greater chance for gusts reaching 30+ mph. As such, there remained high confidence that impacts to recreation and travel will unfold on Christmas Eve.
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 23, 2:46 AM PST, 4 hours 14 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Reno NV 246 AM PST Mon Dec 23 2024 .SYNOPSIS... * Today will be an ideal day for holiday travel as dry and mild weather prevails. * A Christmas Eve storm will bring gusty winds, valley rain, and heavier mountain snow with impacts to recreation and travel. * Tranquil weather prevails on Christmas with additional storms likely late this week into next weekend. && .DISCUSSION... A dry and mild Monday is in store as transient high pressure overspreads the region. Thus, today will be a great day to do holiday travel about and across the Sierra before the weather outside turns frightful. A winter storm arrives to the Sierra and western Nevada late Monday night into the morning of Christmas Eve, bringing gusty winds, wetting lower elevation rain, and heavier Sierra snow through Tuesday afternoon. This storm will likely be bimodal with its precipitation traits: 1) A period of steadier rain/snow with higher snow levels and heavy embedded showers along/ahead of a cold front, and 2) a window of showery, hit-or-miss type rain/snow with lower snow levels once the cold front has passed. The first phase of this storm is favored to occur during the morning of Christmas Eve. This is when the Sierra (above 7000 feet) is most likely to see its heaviest snowfall rates of 1-2"/hr over a longer duration (about 3-6 hours around mid to late morning). There is potential (20-40% chance) of snowfall rates of 3"/hr along the Sierra crest should heavier convective showers develop. Snow levels begin above 7000 feet at the onset before falling to 6000 feet in the afternoon, so rain will likely switch to snow for Sierra passes and lower elevation Sierra communities north of Mono County before the afternoon of Christmas Eve. The caveat to this being the potential that heavier showers lower snow levels earlier in the morning than expected. Also, don't be surprised to hear some rumbles of thunder amid the falling Sierra snow Tuesday AM! Meanwhile, periods of spillover rain will impact portions of western Nevada. Additionally, strongest winds are also favored during the morning of Christmas Eve with most locales having a 30-50% chance of gusts exceeding 40 mph. The second phase of this storm will likely occur in the late morning and afternoon once the cold front passes through. Snow levels lower further during this time, most notably in Mono County, and approach 5500 feet by Tuesday evening. We'll likely see quick bursts of rain and snow (above 5500-6000 feet) in the afternoon and early evening before showers wrap up Tuesday night. Once again, cannot rule out isolated lightning with the stronger showers in the afternoon as lapse rates steepen. By Christmas morning, 8-12" of snow will likely have fallen along the Sierra crest with 30-60% chance of exceeding a foot of snowfall. Meanwhile, communities near lake level will likely see 1-3" with an outside chance (10-15%) of 4" or more. It is also possible (15-30% chance) that foothills/Virginia City receive a dusting of snow by Christmas morning. Christmas Day will be much more tranquil, albeit a bit on the chilly side with daytime highs in the upper 30s and 40s. After Christmas Day, a series of quick-moving storms will may bring additional showers and increased winds on Thursday and Friday, with perhaps a stronger storm lurking around the 29th. Ensembles continue to favor the emergence of a drier weather pattern to ring in 2025. -Salas && .AVIATION... After light rain showers near KTRK/KTVL and Sierra Front terminals end around 12Z, widespread VFR conditions and light breezes will prevail today. FL100 winds will increase after 00Z and reach its apex of 45-55 kts Tuesday AM (between 09-15Z), lending some LLWS and turbulence concerns tonight and Tuesday AM. An incoming winter storm is expected to lower CIGS/VIS to IFR conditions for Sierra terminals and MVFR conditions for Sierra Front terminals much of Tuesday before better flying conditions return Wednesday. -Salas && .AVALANCHE... A winter storm is expected to bring strong ridgetop wind gusts and heavy mountain snow on Tuesday. * Snow levels begin above 7000 feet early Tuesday morning before falling to near 5500 feet Tuesday evening. * Snowfall rates of 1-2"/hr are likely on Tuesday, especially during the morning above 7000 feet. * Total snowfall along the Sierra crest will be between 8-12" with a 30-60% chance of a foot or more on highest peaks. There is a 40-70% chance of SWE of an inch or greater on Tuesday. * Strong southwest gusts exceeding 90-100 mph are expected along exposed Sierra ridges Tuesday AM. -Salas && .REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NV...Winter Weather Advisory from 7 AM to 7 PM PST Tuesday NVZ002. CA...Winter Weather Advisory from 7 AM to 7 PM PST Tuesday CAZ071>073. &&
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 winter weather, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The public located at the Diamond Peak Ski Base, and the public located at the Mount Rose Ski Base reported 24 hour storm total snowfall amounts of 6.0 and 8.0. inches respectively.
A mesonet station (NV021-SW Gardnerville), located 2.0 miles S of Minden, NV, a mesonet station (RGX-VIrginia Peak) located 8.0 miles SW of Nixon, NV, and a mesonet station (SLIDE) located 1.0 mile ESE of Mount Rose Summit, reported peak wind gusts of 63 mph, 65 mph, and 78 mph.
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: 1230075, 1230074.