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; 5 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 28, 1:45 PM PST, 10 hours 15 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
145 PM PST Wed Feb 28 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
The well-advertised major winter storm will usher in widespread,
strong winds and heavy snow Thursday into the weekend. Sierra
travel will be treacherous, with a period of life-threatening
blizzard conditions sandwiched in for Friday afternoon through
Saturday morning. Now is the time to finalize preparations and
get to where you need to be!
&&
.DISCUSSION...
CHANGES/BIG PICTURE KEY POINTS:
* A large and cold upper low is sinking southward off the Pacific
Northwest coast today. The size of this storm, its location over
the northeast Pacific and plenty of cold air are all the
necessary ingredients for a significant winter storm in the
Sierra and western NV Thursday into the weekend.
* Overall snowfall amounts have not changed much when considering
the projected snowfall totals in feet for the Sierra. Snow
amounts for far western NV valleys have increased, and a Winter
Storm Warning has been issued. The worst conditions (strongest
winds and heaviest snow/most widespread blizzard conditions even
into Sierra communities) will occur late Friday afternoon
through midday Saturday. It will be during this time when the
best spillover potential will occur (including the Reno-Carson-
City area and Virginia Highlands). For Sierra locations, don't
get caught up in the "worst conditions" timeframe. It is going
to be really bad throughout the entire event!
* Strong damaging winds are almost a certainty. Whiteout
conditions in the mountains (even down into far western NV at
times late Friday into Saturday morning) with blowing dust
across the Basin and Range.
* If wind and snow were not enough, it will be much colder (mid
winter standards on this one). Wind chills will drop below zero
in the Sierra high country. This really does add a serious life
threatening element to this storm and why you want to avoid
getting stuck!
STORM DETAILS:
* Winds ramp up across the Sierra and western Nevada early
Thursday and remain strong through Saturday with notable EFI
signatures through the entire period. Projected time frame for
most significant wind/damage potential will be ahead of the main
precipitation signature, late Thursday morning to early Thursday
evening for areas near and north of Hwy 50, then shifting south
into Mono-Mineral counties Friday-Friday night. With a major
storm like this, Sierra ridge wind gusts will easily exceed 100+
mph. For the lower valleys and foothills, there is a high
potential (80% chance) for peak gusts 55+ mph while wind prone
areas (US-395/I-580 eastern Lassen County into Mono County and
US-95 near Walker Lake) have a 30% chance of seeing peak gusts
80+ mph. Winds may dampen at times during heavier precipitation
rates, but will remain strong enough to produce near-zero
visibility in the Sierra and the foothills. Blowing dust may
also produce areas of poor visibility across the Basin and
Range.
* Heavy snow will begin early Thursday morning across NE
California, spread to the Tahoe Basin by late morning, and to
the southern Sierra (Mono county) by Thursday afternoon. On
average the snow rates will be between 1-3"/hr, but will peak
Friday evening through Saturday morning at 3-5"/hr when heavy
snow and strong winds will combine to produce widespread
blizzard conditions. There are only so many ways that we can say
it will be treacherous to be traveling on the roads or even
exiting your home during this timeframe. Whiteout conditions are
very disorienting, so this is not the time to gamble with you or
your family's lives. Quick snapshot of snow totals: NE CA: 1-3
feet for W. Lassen County (6-14" 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.
* For far western NV: Snow levels will start at valley floors
Thursday night into daybreak Friday for a quick round of 1-3"
snow and slick road potential for the AM commute. For much of
the day, snow will back off and snow levels will rise just off
the valley floors, but winds will pick back up again ahead of
the main snow band Friday night-Saturday. Rather than go back
and forth between wind and snow headlines, we chose to include
Friday in the Winter Storm Warning to account for the
fluctuation in weather conditions. Latest blended guidance has
increased for snow potential Friday night into Saturday for
valleys with a 50-80% chance of Reno-Carson City and surrounding
valleys seeing 8" of snow and even a 30-50% chance of exceeding
a foot. Foothills locations including Virginia City will easily
exceed a foot (80-90% chance) with a 40-50% chance of exceeding
2 feet. Considering the combination of wind/snow, a Winter Storm
Warning was hoisted for these areas Thursday night- Saturday.
* Lingering snow showers into Sunday as the main trough advances.
Temperatures are going to be much colder this weekend with highs
struggling to reach 30 degrees for Sierra communities and 40
degrees down here. Wind chills will easily go below zero for the
Sierra backcountry and ridges given our expected winds. It will
feel like we are back in the middle of winter (kinda like last
year), especially after the mild stretch that is coming to an
end. The good news is that there will likely be a break early
next week although temperatures will be slow to warm. Ensemble
clusters hint at another system mid to late next week although
nothing is looking as potent as the incoming storm.
Hohmann
&&
.AVIATION...
VFR conditions and relatively light winds will prevail today into
the evening for area terminals. The only exception will be south-
southwest winds increasing 10-15 kts this evening for Sierra
terminals. KTRK, KTVL, KRNO, KCXP, and KMEV may also see potential
for increased LLWS and mountain wave turbulence around 03-06Z
onward. Rain/snow ahead of the expected winter storm will bring
periods of MVFR conditions to Sierra terminals (KTRK-KTVL) in
lower CIG/VIS due to periods of increasing rain/snow by 12-15Z.
IFR/LIFR conditions in moderate to heavy snow, and wind gusts to
25-40KTS, follow after 18Z. Expect whiteout conditions and near
zero visibility during periods of blizzard conditions Friday
evening into Saturday morning.
-Amanda
&&
.AVALANCHE...
MAJOR WINTER STORM THURSDAY-SUNDAY: Continued high confidence for
very strong winds (ridge top gusts 100+ mph) combined with
prolonged heavy snowfall rates (1-3"/hour), starting Thursday
morning and continuing into the weekend. Periods of blizzard
conditions are likely Friday afternoon through Saturday morning
with snow rates of 3-5"/hour not 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
increase to 13:1-16:1 Thursday night through Saturday. Snow
amounts will be difficult to measure as considerable drifting will
occur. QPF values during this storm period look to range between
4 to 8 inches with the Sierra crest seeing the higher end of the
range.
Hohmann
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...High Wind Warning from 7 AM to 10 PM PST Thursday NVZ003-005.
Winter Storm Warning from 10 PM Thursday to 4 PM PST Saturday
NVZ005.
Blizzard Warning from 10 AM Thursday to 10 AM PST Sunday NVZ002.
High Wind Warning from 10 AM Thursday to 4 AM PST Friday
NVZ001-004.
Winter Storm Warning from 10 PM Thursday to 10 PM PST Saturday
NVZ003.
CA...High Wind Warning from 7 AM to 10 PM PST Thursday CAZ070.
Winter Storm Warning from 10 PM Thursday to 4 PM PST Saturday
CAZ070.
Blizzard Warning from 4 AM Thursday to 4 AM PST Sunday CAZ071.
Blizzard Warning from 10 AM Thursday to 10 AM PST Sunday CAZ072.
Blizzard Warning from 4 PM Thursday to 10 AM PST Sunday CAZ073.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Storey County Emergency Manager reported multiple trees down in Virginia City due to high winds.
Mesonet station (SLIDE-DRI) located 0.9 mi E of Mount Rose Summit reported a peak wind gust of 85 mph.
A mesonet station (XWSH-NV DOT) located 2.0 SSW of New Washoe City, NV, and a mesonet station (GLCNV-NV DOT) located 2.0 mi NNE of Washoe City, NV, reported peak wind gusts of 72 mph and 66 mph respectively.
An ASOS (KNFL) located on NAS Fallon, NV, and mesonet station (TOUNV-NV DOT ) located 10.0 mi NNE of Trinity Junction, NV, reported peak wind gusts of 59 mph and 63 mph respectively.
A mesonet station (WLKNV-NV DOT) located 6.0 mi NW of Hawthorne, NV, reported a peak wind gust of 75 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, 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: 1166649, 1166647, 1166648, 1166645, 1166646.