This storm was allowed to tap into Pacific moisture for a longer period of time that nudged it just enough north to make a more direct landfall into the central OR coast. This next storm Friday evening into Saturday brought more gusty winds, Sierra snow, and valley rain/snow showers.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 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 storm was allowed to tap into Pacific moisture for a longer period of time that nudged it just enough north to make a more direct landfall into the central OR coast. This next storm Friday evening into Saturday brought more gusty winds, Sierra snow, and valley rain/snow showers. This storm’s warmer nature raised snow levels a bit higher(5500-6500 feet) with the potential for mixed precipitation in the valley areas and foothills. The lower-end ensemble snow scenarios showed a bit more confident projection for at least a foot of snow in the Sierra with potential for 18-24 inches along the Sierra crest. Regardless, this contributed to another bout of travel disruptions, especially for ski commutes during the upcoming holiday weekend. Wind speeds have trended up a bit with this storm as well with the potential for wind gusts 40 to 50 mph for the valley areas. Sierra ridge wind gusts got a boost with potential for gusts 90+ mph.
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 Jan 12, 2:27 PM PST, 18 hours 33 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
227 PM PST Fri Jan 12 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
Our next winter storm moves in late this evening through Saturday
with more mountain snow and valley rain/snow showers. Next week is
trending warmer with above average temperatures and chances of some
precipitation by mid-week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
PROLOGUE:
* Cloudy, cold, and dry is the best way to describe current
conditions. With the exception of a few foothill areas blessed
enough to be located within the the thermal zone above freezing
for inversion layers across the area, everywhere else was cold
below freezing. Another winter storm brewing over the northeast
Pacific is poised to drive into the West Coast later tonight and
push through our region Saturday and Sunday morning.
INITIAL WARM ASCENT:
* As our next winter storm draws closer, it will tap into a warmer
fetch of Pacific moisture. When coupled with a moderate strength
westerly flow aloft, and weak isentropic ascent, this relatively
warmer layer of moisture will thicken as it streams into the
region this evening into Saturday morning. With the rain-snow line
hovering around 4000-5000’ across much of northeast CA/Surprise
south to the Lake Tahoe Basin, precipitation will start as light
to moderate snow later this evening. As this winter storm system
reaches highest intensity late Saturday morning and afternoon,
periods of heavy snowfall with rates as high as 2”/hr that will
add a least another foot of snow to Sierra crest above 7000-7500’.
The nexus of this storm will be the variability of the the snow
levels along the weak warm frontal boundary ascending over some
valley across northeast CA, the Sierra, and parts of northwestern
NV. As mid-level warming above freezing noses into the region, it
will bring a 10-20% chance for a light film of freezing rain
across areas where surface temperatures remain below freezing till
late morning.
MAIN EVENT:
* With the warmer nature of this winter storm, snowfall totals will
be a bit tamer as compare to our precious winter storm, but still
worth noting. Blended guidance projects quantitative liquid
amounts across the Sierra Front and Lake Tahoe Basin reaching a
few tenths to 0.40” overnight that tops at 1.00-1.50” at the
height of storm intensity midday through afternoon Saturday. Snow
ratios will also react to slightly warmer air starting around 10-
13:1 overnight,and gradually increasing to 7-10:1 by midday
Saturday. There is that chance for a heavy wet Sierra cement
across lower elevation areas around the Lake Tahoe Basin daybreak
Saturday morning that continues into Mono County by midday. The
Lake Tahoe Basin still has an even chance for an inch to 2” of
accumulated snow, and at least a 30% chance for something up to 4”
before snow level rise above lake level.
* This being said, surrounding foothill areas across northeast CA
and Reno-Carson City will see a snow-mixed-rain transition shortly
after daybreak as well. Snow levels that steadily rise Saturday
morning will also ensure mostly rain falls from the sky across
western NV valleys Saturday through Saturday evening. Don’t
expected anything more that a tenth to a few hundredths of an inch
of liquid precipitation. Sunday should see decreasing
precipitation chances and partial clearing as this latest winter
invigorator exits east and southeast into the central Great Basin.
* Lets not forget about winds across the region, which run the
potential for aviation impacts, and heightened concerns for those
traveling in high-profile vehicles. With a tight 130kt jet core
sagging south into northern CA/NV, winds across higher Sierra
ridges will make the ground tremble with gusts to 90-100 mph
continuing through Saturday. Until the progressive upper short
wave transit further east, winds across western NV valleys will
generally be light through Saturday morning. By the afternoon,
wind gusts across most western NV valleys will increase to the
more hefty 30-40 mph range late Saturday morning through the
afternoon. A few hold-out wind prone areas, however, like Washoe
Valley, as well as US-395 corridors across eastern Lassen County
and Mono County look to see gusts to 45-60 mph.
Parts of northeast CA and northwest NV are projected to see gusts
pushing to 50 mph. Winds will gradually dissipate overnight
Saturday through Sunday.
TIDY-UP INTO NEXT WEEK:
* As a certain theatrical character word say - “The future hard to
see…always in motion!”
* Although much uncertainty with regards to projected precipitation
and winds follows along into mid-late week, some warming is
projected through mid week with blended guidance showing a return
of day time highs into the low 50s. Ensemble cluster guidance
shows a nicely sharp upper ridge axis is projected to shift more
east into the western US and bring clearing skies, lighter winds,
and continued dry conditions. The light winds and colder surface
temperatures will strengthen morning inversions that could trap
pollutants and smoke in lower valley areas. These conditions will
also increase the potential formation of overnight lower stratus
and pockets of freezing fog in the Sierra and Martis Valleys. Look
for a return to a more active pattern by the 17th-18th. -Amanda
&&
.AVIATION...
* VFR conditions will persist for Sierra and western NV main
terminals. Look for westerly FL100 winds increasing to 45-50kts by
06-09Z, bringing an increased potential for stronger mountain wave
turbulence and LLWS for Sierra terminals that extends east into
far western NV terminals.
* The next storm starts late evening, and continues through
Saturday. Look for another period of area-wide gusty winds,
periods of moderate to heavy Sierra snow, and some valley
rain/snow showers.
* Sierra terminals will see IFR/LIFR conditions starting at 09-12Z
with periods of SN/+SN continuing until early afternoon. There is
a 10-20% for periods of light blowing snow late Saturday morning
and early afternoon.
* As snow levels increase late Saturday afternoon and evening, look
for conditions to gradually improve 00-06Z to MVFR/IFR in-SN
and/or a mix of -RA/-SN and mist. High guidance shows light snow
ceasing by 06-09Z. Mountain terminals will also see at least 1.0”-
2.0” of accumulated snow on runways. -Amanda
&&
.AVALANCHE...
* SWE along the Sierra crest for Friday PM - Saturday Storm- 25th
percentile 0.5-1.0" - 50th percentile 1.0-1.5"- 75th percentile
2.0- 2.5"
* SNOW: Snow levels 5500-7000 ft with snow ratios 10-12:1 with this
warmer storm. For areas above 7500 feet, there is a 75-90% chance
of at least 12" of snow with this storm. The highest amounts of
snowfall will occur from Sonora Pass northward into Plumas County.
* WINDS: Friday- Saturday: Winds will continue to increase from the
west overnight with the strongest winds arriving Saturday morning
and afternoon with gust potential of 90-100+ mph.
Given the variability planning on 1-2" SWE a good bet for now at
least along the crest, with still lower values (0.5-1") for east
side mountains. -McKellar/Amanda
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Winter Weather Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 1 AM PST
Sunday NVZ004-005.
Winter Storm Warning from 1 AM Saturday to 4 AM PST Sunday
NVZ002.
Lake Wind Advisory from 10 AM Saturday to 4 AM PST Sunday NVZ004.
CA...Winter Weather Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 1 AM PST
Sunday CAZ070-071.
Winter Storm Warning from 1 AM Saturday to 4 AM PST Sunday
CAZ072.
Winter Weather Advisory from 1 AM Saturday to 4 AM PST Sunday
CAZ073.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind, 1 heavy snow, 1 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
A trained spotter(WA-12) located 1.0 mi NNW of Incline Village, and the public located at the Mount Rose Ski Base reported 24 hour storm snowfall totals of 4.5 inches and 4.0 inches respectively.
A trained spotter(WA-12) located 1.0 mi NNW of Incline Village, and the public located at the Mount Rose Ski Base reported 24 hour storm snowfall totals of 4.5 inches and 4.0 inches respectively.
Nevada State Police reports a semi-truck was blown over by high winds on I-580 in Washoe Valley, blocking one northbound lane. The truck fell onto an unoccupied vehicle on the shoulder.
Local utility company reported 3 power poles were snapped 2.0 mi NNE of Carson City, NV, along Goni Rd. in Carson City.
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, January 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1165990, 1193447, 1165992, 1165991.