This comparatively weaker winter storm opened up another active weather pattern that tracked through the Sierra and western Nevada late in the evening February 17-18. This storm brought higher elevation snowfall that was heavy at times above 7000 feet.
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.
This comparatively weaker winter storm opened up another active weather pattern that tracked through the Sierra and western Nevada late in the evening February 17-18. This storm brought higher elevation snowfall that was heavy at times above 7000 feet. This storm also included the possibility of an additional several feet of snowfall. Mainly spillover rainfall fell over lower western Nevada valleys that included periods of gusty winds as well.
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 18, 2:29 AM PST, 4 hours 31 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
229 AM PST Sun Feb 18 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
A series of winter systems will track through the Sierra and
western Nevada through the middle of the upcoming week. Expect
periods of heavy snow mainly for elevations above 7000 feet where
several feet of snowfall will be possible. Otherwise looking
mainly at spillover rain for lower western Nevada valleys with
periods of gusty winds.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
As of this hour (2am night shifts!), radar imagery is showing
ongoing light precipitation throughout the Sierra from Plumas
County into Mono County, with local camera networks showing snow
at around 5500'. 24 hour precipitation totals vary from a trace
to 0.15" across far western NV, northeast CA, and Mono County with
higher totals across the greater Tahoe area that vary from 0.25"
to 0.50". Precipitation will continue through the early morning,
followed by a break in the action before the next round of
precipitation this evening. For the latest road conditions, please
check with Caltrans/NDOT.
TODAY-MONDAY | Stronger & Wetter Storm. Sierra Snow, Valley Rain.
* Changes: The major change to the latest forecast will be the
issuance of a Wind Advisory for Mineral County and a Lake Wind
Advisory for Pyramid Lake from late Monday morning into the late
evening. Precipitation totals have also increased for the
duration of the storm (Sunday evening through Wednesday),
especially spillover for western NV. Snowfall amounts have also
slightly increased during this time frame.
* Snow: We're still expecting that snow levels tonight through
early Monday morning will be around 7000-8000'. Snow levels then
drop late Monday morning through the remainder of the day to
around 5500-6000' in northeast CA, greater Lake Tahoe area, and
Mono County. Elevations above 7000' in the Sierra still have
best potential for 1 to 2 feet of snowfall along the Sierra
crest. The Tahoe basin at lake level can still expect a couple
inches of snow. Sierra communities above 7000' across Mono
County could see 1 to 2 feet of snowfall (including June and
Mammoth Lakes) with up to 3 to 4 feet along the crest. Lower
elevations along and east US-395 could see a few inches of snow.
* Spillover and lower elevation rain: Model soundings are still
showing decent instability and strong 700mb winds that will
allow for efficient spillover precipitation into western NV.
Between 0.75" to 1.0" of rainfall is possible for lower valleys
along the US-395/I580 corridor with 0.25" to 0.50" for the inner
Basins and Range in western NV. We're still expecting that the
heaviest precipitation will occur overnight into Monday morning,
with a 10-20% chance for thunderstorms. The precipitation
amounts could increase streamflows on rivers and streams along
with minor flooding for poor drainage areas below 7000'.
* Wind: As previously mentioned above, wind advisories have been
issued for Mineral County and Pyramid Lake. We're still
expecting the strongest winds to occur late Monday morning into
the evening. Gusts along the ridges in the Sierra will be
upwards of 70-100 mph, with gusts up to 50-60 mph for valleys in
Mono County. Western NV and northeast CA will have common gusts
between 35-50 mph, with stronger gusts upwards of 50-60 mph in
wind prone areas, especially into Mineral County and Walker
Lake. Expect crosswind issues for high profile vehicles,
recreation hazards, and aviation turbulence.
TUESDAY ONWARD | Snow Sierra through mid-week, then calm.
* Changes: No major changes from Tuesday onward. The large
hemispheric trough will allow for additional pieces of mid-level
energy to rotate into the region through Wednesday morning.
Otherwise, no major changes to precipitation timing or amounts.
* Snow levels will remain around 5000-6000' from Tuesday into
Wednesday, with locally heavy snow at times. Additional
accumulations of 1 to 2 feet will be possible along the Sierra
crest, 3 to 6 inches down to Lake Tahoe Level, and 5 to 10
inches for communities along US-395 above 7000 feet.
* From Thursday into next weekend, we will return to calmer
weather pattern with near average temperatures and drier
weather.
- McKellar
&&
.AVIATION...
* Changes: There are no major changes to the current aviation
forecast.
* Expect MVFR/IFR conditions along with mountain obscurations in
mixed precipitation at KTVL and KTRK through around 15Z this
morning. Light rain showers are also possible through 15Z for
far western NV terminals. Otherwise, conditions will improve
this morning and afternoon.
* Winds along with LLWS will ease this morning, then increase
later this evening as the next system moves into the region.
FL100 winds will increase to 40-50 kts tonight into Monday,
peaking 60+ kts 00-15Z Monday. Periods of turbulence, LLWS, and
mountain waves return this evening for all Sierra terminals and
will continue into Monday. Precipitation may dampen the winds
some, but bursts of wind gusts 30-45 mph are possible Sunday
night and Monday.
* From Sunday through Wednesday, several inches of snow are
likely at Sierra terminals with a 50-70% chance of exceeding 6"
at KTRK- KTVL and a 30-40% chance of exceeding 12" at KMMH. For
KTRK- KTVL, snow levels are expected to stay high enough with
the first part of the storm late Sunday into Monday with
moderate to heavy rain and little or no snow accumulation
(mostly MVFR conditions). Snow levels do drop Monday night
through Tuesday night when snow showers and much lower CIGS/VSBY
will be present(IFR/LIFR conditions at times). For lower
elevations airports including KRNO-KCXP-KMEV, a period of
moderate to heavy rain is becoming more likely, peaking 06-18Z
Monday when widespread MVFR conditions/terrain obscurement are
likely. Conditions will be unstable, so there is a 10-20% chance
of lightning at any of the terminals.
- Hohmann/McKellar
&&
.AVALANCHE...
LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON THRU TUESDAY NIGHT:
* CHANGES: There are no major changes to the latest avalanche
forecast.
* Sunday to Monday: This storm will arrive with a weak, but
beneficial AR (IVT 250-500 kg/(ms)) from this evening into early
Monday. This period will be characterized by lower SLRs (8:1 to
12:1) and higher snow levels (7000-8000') along with stronger
SSW ridge level wind gusts 80-100 mph. The most widespread and
heaviest precipitation will occur during this time as well with
liquid totals 2.00-3.00" along the crest and 1-3 feet of snow
above 8000 feet. Snowfall rates will generally be 2- 2.5"/hr.
NOTE: One thing to watch closely is the higher snow levels as
rain vs snow chances are increasing below 7000-7500 feet with
this part of the storm.
* Late Monday to Wednesday: As the main trough advances inland,
snow will be more showery late Monday through Tuesday night but
heavy at times as conditions become increasingly unstable.
Cannot rule out a few thunderstorms (10-20% chance) with heavy
bursts of snowfall rates approaching 3"/hr. Conditions will be a
bit colder with SLRs rising to 12-15:1. Additional liquid
accumulations up to 1.00- 2.00" and snowfall 1-2 feet. Wind
gusts will be similar at the ridges through Monday evening at
60-90 mph then decrease to 40-60 mph on Tuesday.
- Hohmann/McKellar
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Winter Weather Advisory until 4 AM PST Sunday NVZ002.
Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM Sunday to 10 AM PST Wednesday
NVZ002.
CA...Winter Weather Advisory until 4 AM PST Sunday CAZ071-072.
Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM Sunday to 10 AM PST Wednesday
CAZ071>073.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 heavy rain, 1 high wind, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
A CoCORAHS station (NV-DG-23) located 3.0 mi ESE of Heavenly Valley, NV, reported a 24 hr rainfall storm total of 1.50.
A CoCORAHS station (NV-CC-23) located 1.0 mi W of Carson City, NV, and a trained spotter located 2.0 mi N of Stewart, NV, reported a 24 hr rainfall storm total of 1.33 inches and 1.23 inches.
Mesonet station (SLIDE-DRI) located 0.9 mi E of Mount Rose Summit reported a peak wind gust of 84 mph.
The public located at the Mount Rose Ski Base summit, a trained spotter(WA-12) located 1.0 mi NNW of Incline Village, and the public located at the Diamond Peak Ski resort reported 24 hour storm snowfall totals of 14.0 inches, 9.0 inches, and 7.0 inches 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, 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: 1166653, 1166652, 1166642, 1166651.