A zonal flow pattern and a tight pressure gradient formed over central and northern Nevada caused by low pressure over the Pacific NW and a persistent high pressure ridge over the Southwestern States. This pattern persisted for several days producing strong and gusty winds across the region.
Every event with a place to put it; 19 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 LKN wrote it up.
A zonal flow pattern and a tight pressure gradient formed over central and northern Nevada caused by low pressure over the Pacific NW and a persistent high pressure ridge over the Southwestern States. This pattern persisted for several days producing strong and gusty winds across the region.
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 Elko, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 16, 10:48 PM PST, 6 hours 42 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Elko NV 1048 PM PST Tue Dec 16 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1046 PM PST Tue Dec 16 2025 * Unseasonably warm each afternoon through the weekend * Periods of precipitation, focused across Northern Nevada, lasting through the week * Strong to very strong west-southwest wind gusts in Northern & Central Nevada from Wednesday morning to Wednesday afternoon && .UPDATE... Issued at 1046 PM PST Tue Dec 16 2025 Forecast is on track with no updates needed at this time. && .DISCUSSION... (Tonight through next Tuesday) WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW: For Wednesday and Wednesday night, all models are depicting the development of strong winds at the surface and aloft. Southwest to west winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph will be developing during the early morning hours but these winds are expected to increase in the late morning to early afternoon periods. A fairly robust 250mb jet of 150 to 160 knots will be just north of the forecast area out of the west and southwest. 700 mb winds across northern Nevada will be 40 to 50 knots in the morning, increasing to 50 to 65 knots or more by late morning to early afternoon hours. The strongest winds are expected to be over Elko county. Previous shifts have issued wind advisories for much of the forecast area and these look good. However, the wind probabilities for stronger winds exist in portions of south-central Elko county. Winds speeds in these locations have a greater than a sixty to seventy percent chance of seeing gusts of 58 mph or more. Have therefore upgraded the wind advisory for zones 031, 033, 034, and 039 to a high wind warning. All times will be carried over without adjustment. Light, showery precipitation will also develop further south and east with a southernmost boundary being US Highway 50. Snow levels will continue to be at or above 6500 feet for much of the day, though some cooler air is expected to move in during the latter portions of the afternoon in the northern portions of Elko and Humboldt counties. Storm total precipitation amounts will generally be a tenth of an inch or lower, though higher amounts to a quarter to a third of an inch. Snow amounts will be limited to the higher elevation locations. Highs will be warm with readings in the 50s to low 60s. Precipitation is expected to slowly wind down during the early portions of the overnight with lows in the 20s and 30s. Thursday through next Monday, periods of showery precipitation are expected through this timeframe as model solutions keep an upper ridge well off the southwest coast with an upper trough off the coast of British Columbia. The flow will generally remain out of the west and so not expecting much change in temperature regime. Look for above normal highs each day with readings in the 50s to low 60s. Overnight lows will be in the 30s and 40s. Winds will remain breezy each afternoon along the northern sections of the forecast area, north of I-80 with gusts to 30 to 40 mph. Friday afternoon will be breezy at all locations. Overnight lows will be in the 30s and 40s. FORECAST CONFIDENCE & DEVIATIONS: Bumped up NBM wind speeds and gusts across select locations to warning criteria based off of EC/GFS model and sounding data. Confidence is also high in above normal temperatures as flow remains westerly with no noteworthy cold pushes. && .AVIATION... VFR conditions expected through the next 24 hours, although ceilings will be lowering as the period progresses. Showers are expected near KWMC/KBAM/KEKO as early as 22Z today and are expected to persist through 18-00Z tomorrow. Winds are expected to increase overnight with KWMC/KBAM/KEKO gusting up to 25KT by midnight. Winds in northern Nevada continue to increase through the early morning with KWMC/KBAM/KEKO/KENV gusting up to 35KT by 15Z. Winds are expected to peak at all sites between 18Z and 00Z tomorrow, with the northern sites gusting up to 45KT, KELY gusting up to 25KT, and KTPH expected to be mostly unaffected, with winds around 10KT. Winds above 30KT may also be associated with blowing dust and decreased visibility. && .LKN Watches/Warnings/Advisories... Wind Advisory until 8 PM PST Wednesday NVZ030-035>038. High Wind Warning until 8 PM PST Wednesday NVZ031-033-034-039. && DISCUSSION...86 AVIATION...94
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
19 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
NV Energy, Paradise Hill, Elevation 4391 ft.
Station (MPVN2) Martin Creek, Elevation 6439 ft.
Station (DBLN2) Double H, Elevation 6380 ft.
Station (MORN2) Morey Creek, Elevation 5500 ft.
Station (POCN2) Pole Creek, Elevation 8502 ft.
Station (LONN2) Long Hollow, Elevation 5820 ft.
Station (RBVN2) Ruby Valley, Elevation 6891 ft.
ASOS station KEKO, Elko Regional Airport, Elevation 5048 ft.
Station (STMN2) Stag Mountain, Elevation 6790 ft.
Station (SPGN2) Spring Gulch, Elevation 5470 ft.
Station (SPMN2) Spruce Mountains, Elevation 6296 ft.
Station AS326 Coal Mine Canyon CWOP, Elevation 5549 ft.
Station (ALLN2) Alligator Ridge, Elevation 6674 ft.
AWOS Station KP68 Eureka Airport, Elevation 5952 ft.
Station (RLKN2) Ruby Lake, Elevation 5970 ft.
Station (POCN2) Pole Creek, Elevation 8502 ft.
Station (MORN2) Morey Creek, Elevation 5500 ft.
Station (POCN2) Pole Creek, Elevation 8502 ft.
Station (RSCN2) Rock Spring Creek, Elevation 5427 ft.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, December 2025
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: 1304353, 1304346, 1304348, 1304351, 1304355, 1304354, 1304359, 1304361, 1304357, 1304358, 1304360, 1304362, 1304363, 1304364, 1304365, 1304409, 1304408, 1304410, 1304411.