The active weather returns Wednesday afternoon to close out the month of January. Therefore, strong and gusty winds especially over higher mountain elevations was followed with mountain snow and valley rain showers.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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.
The active weather returns Wednesday afternoon to close out the month of January. Therefore, strong and gusty winds especially over higher mountain elevations was followed with mountain snow and valley rain showers. Wind was the first hazard expected starting over the Sierra and NE CA, then spreading into western Nevada with south winds between 30-50 mph, and gusts over 60-80 mph across higher mountain ridges and passes. Valley winds were projected to be 15-35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph. The probability of 60 mph winds across mountain areas in CA was 60% or greater and 10-20% over W NV. Lake winds were around 15-25 mph with gusts to 35-45 mph.
Valley rain and mountain snow showers were projected to move into the region Wednesday PM. Global models and their respective ensemble members initially dug the trough and a deeper layer of sub-tropical IVT moisture will quickly sweep east and south across portions of northeast California, before descending into the Sierra, western Nevada, and Mono Co. Snow levels started near 7000 feet on Wednesday, then dropped to 6000 feet by Thursday. Most higher elevation areas received mostly rain initially before transitioning to mostly snow Thursday evening. Snow levels dropped to 5500 ft on Thursday afternoon, and dropped further to below 4000 feet by Friday morning. The Sierra above 7000 and Mono Co were given even chances for about 1-2 feet of new snow with 6-12 inches below 7000 feet. For northeast California 4-10 inches of accumulated snow, and up to 20 inches in the higher mountain passes.
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 31, 2:25 AM PST, 8 hours 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
225 AM PST Wed Jan 31 2024
.SYNOPSIS...
One more mild day before we see a transition back to a more wintry
pattern as a series of progressively stronger winter storms work
their way across the Sierra and western Nevada this week. Gusty
south winds will herald the first storms arrival today with snowfall
arriving across the Sierra this evening through Thursday.
Expect lingering snow showers through the weekend before a colder
and more potent storm arrives Sunday into Monday.
&&
.DISCUSSION…
After several unseasonably mild days with record breaking highs, we
will begin a transition to a much wetter pattern as a series of
winter storms are poised to impact the Sierra this week. The first
storm will yield higher snow levels with snow impacts mainly
concentrated along the Sierra crest and western slopes with less
impacts for lower elevation eastern Sierra communities. The second
and likely more impactful storm for Sunday-Monday features a solid
moisture plume, lower snow levels, dynamic forcing, and healthy
amounts of spillover which could yield snow impacts for western
Nevada valleys.
WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY: (STORM 1)
*Wind: Winds will be on the increase this afternoon as gusty south
winds produce cross-wind hazards, aviation turbulence, and
recreation hazards. Wind gusts through Sierra and W.NV valleys will
generally reach into the 35-45 mph range while localized channeling
through aligned terrain/roadways could see a 30-40% chance of
seeing 50+ mph gusts including: US-395/I580 from the stateline
through Washoe and Carson Valleys and also along US-95 near Walker
Lake/Hawthorne. Winds in Mono County could see 40-60% chances of
exceeding 60 mph in wind prone areas. Cross wind hazards along I-80
could be elevated for high profile vehicles due the southerly wind
orientation
*Rain/Snow: The main band of moisture will begin tracking up the
west slopes of the Sierra this evening before the peak snow and rain
rates arrive after about midnight through Thursday morning.
Thereafter, snow showers will taper down in intensity but will
linger through the weekend. This storm is coming in rather shadowed
due to the southerly moisture trajectory across the Sierra. This
combined with snow levels in the 5500-6500 range from NE CA through
the Sierra will aid in confining impacts mainly to upper passes
along the crest. Snow totals will be around 12-18" along the crest
in the Tahoe Basin with around 6-12” for the western basin mainly
west of highway 89. Much less potential for Lake Level communities
due to fluttering snow levels with 2-6” possible. Across the crest
in Mono County, look for 1-2 feet along the crest with 12-18 inches
for areas west of US-395 above 7500 feet including June Lake and
Mammoth Lakes.
SUNDAY-MONDAY: (STORM 2)
* An interesting set-up which could phase lower snow levels while
drawing subtropical moisture northward into the Sierra could lead
to a better potential for widespread snow impacts across all
elevations through the Sierra on Sunday-Monday.
* Storm track is the main source of uncertainty as a southward
moving closed low off the PacNW phases with northward flowing
subtropical moisture. Expected snowfall and impacts will be
dictated by the position of the low as in moves on shore.
* Initial snow probabilities are showing a 20-30% chance of
exceeding 3 feet across the Sierra crest along the Tahoe Basin (40-
50% for 12"+ at lake level) with a 75% chance along the crest
through Mono County from Sunday into Monday night.
* The dynamic nature of this storm is showing the potential for
heavy spillover into W.NV late Sunday into Monday. Snow level
uncertainties are leading to rather substantial boom-bust
scenarios in terms of snowfall down in valley floors, but overall
levels are indicating a range of 4500-5500' with a 20-30% shot of
seeing 4 inches of snowfall for valley floors. Foothill areas
across W.NV including the Virginia Highlands/VC could see a better
potential for heavy snowfall impacts. Fuentes
&&
.AVIATION...
* Increasing south winds are expected today ahead of incoming winter
storm which is expected to produce enhanced mountain wave
turbulence and LLWS across areas terminals today. Southerly
surface gusts of 30-40 kts will be possible across Sierra and W.NV
terminals. Ridgetop wind gusts could exceed 90kts before
diminishing after 9-12z Thursday.
* Mountain top obscurement along with periods of MVFR to IFR
conditions are expected in -SHSN/SHSN after 6Z Thursday for Sierra
terminals. Runway accumulations up to 1" possible at KTRK/KTVL
through Thursday morning and near 3" at KMMH. W.Nevada terminals
will see mainly light spillover rains early Thu AM.
* Snowfall intensities drop off after about 18z Thursday morning
with lingering snow showers and brief periods of MVFR conditions
possible through Saturday.
* A stronger winter storm with lower snow levels could yield
widespread heavy snowfall impacts to Sierra Terminals on Sunday
and Monday with accumulating snowfall possible down to western
Nevada valley floors and terminals. Fuentes
&&
.AVALANCHE...
* A series of winter storms will impact the Sierra Wednesday night
through Thursday morning with lingering snow showers continue
through the weekend.
* SWE: East of Lake Tahoe expect 0.5-0.75", while the western basin
could receive 1-1.5" with up to 2" near the crest. Mono Co is
still expected to receive 1-2.25" along the crest.
* Snow ratios of 8-12:1 along the Sierra and around Lake Tahoe.
The lower ratios are focused more to the eastern side of the lake
and lower elevations. Mono Co remains around 12-14:1. Convective
bands of snow showers may lead to high snow fall rates. Otherwise,
snow rates should remain around 1" per hour.
* Winds remain from the south with gusts 80-90 mph today along the
Sierra crest with 35-45 mph for lower valley elevations. Winds
start to subside on Thursday early morning.
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 10 PM PST this evening
NVZ005.
Winter Storm Warning from 10 AM this morning to 10 AM PST Friday
NVZ002.
Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 4 AM PST Thursday
NVZ001.
Lake Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 10 PM PST this
evening NVZ004.
CA...Wind Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 10 PM PST this evening
CAZ070.
Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 10 AM PST
Friday CAZ071.
Winter Storm Warning from 10 AM this morning to 10 AM PST Friday
CAZ072.
Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM this afternoon to 10 AM PST
Friday CAZ073.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Mesonet station (SLIDE-DRI) located 0.9 mi E of Mount Rose Summit reported a peak wind gust of 84 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, 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1166008.