This was the strongest storm of the month bringing significant snow totals to the Sierra, including Sierra communities, along with lighter rain into western Nevada. High winds were the greatest impact for western Nevada.
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.
This was the strongest storm of the month bringing significant snow totals to the Sierra, including Sierra communities, along with lighter rain into western Nevada. High winds were the greatest impact for western Nevada.
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 Mar 11, 12:53 PM PST, 11 hours 7 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
153 PM PDT Tue Mar 11 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
* Dry and mild with breezy southwest winds today. Last quiet weather
day ahead of our incoming storm.
* Impactful Sierra winter storm Wed/Thu. Period of heavy mountain
snow with significant travel disruptions along mountain passes.
Strong and gusty winds expected regionwide Wednesday.
* Periods of Sierra snow showers continue on Friday followed by
another potent winter storm late Sunday into Monday.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
TODAY:
* One more mild and relatively quiet weather day today before
conditions begin to deteriorate as a potent winter storm moves
through the region beginning tomorrow. Expect increasing
southwest breezes with afternoon gusts reaching 20-30 mph. A
few light snow showers will be possible this afternoon along the
Sierra but with accumulations generally an inch or less.
IMPACTFUL SIERRA STORM WED/THU
* An incoming winter storm is on track to produce periods of heavy
Sierra snow with major travel disruptions expected for anyone
attempting to cross mountain passes Wed-Thu. This storm will
also produce widespread strong and gusty winds Wednesday which
could impact aviation and road travel for high profile vehicles.
* Overall, no changes to expected timing and snowfall amounts
along the Sierra. Snow levels start low, generally below
5500-6000', as the snow showers begin Wednesday morning along
the Sierra. The main window of heaviest snowfall rates (2-4"/hr)
and most difficult travel are expected late Wednesday afternoon
into the evening across far NE California and Tahoe Basin.
Heaviest rates for Mono county will be Wednesday night into
early Thursday morning.
* Snow: For northeast CA, elevations below 5,000' can see 0-3", from
5,000-6,000' will have around 4-10", and above 6,000' will have
between 1-2 feet. For the Tahoe Basin, elevations below 7,000'
will have between 8-24" (8" in lowest elevations such as Truckee
and Markleeville). Above 7,000' can expect 2-3', with locally
higher amounts over the passes. For Mono County, elevations below
8,000' can see between 6-12" including along US-395. Elevations
above 8,000' will have between 1-3' (28-36" at Mammoth Mountain, 9-
12" along the White Mountains). As for western NV, given the
orientation of the upper level flow we're not expecting to see a
whole lot of accumulation, with only a dusting up to 4" above
5,500'. Below 5,500' including the Reno, Carson, Minden, and
Fallon, there's an 80-95% chance of less than 1" throughout this
whole storm. Mountainous communities like Virginia City and its
Highlands will see 2-4".
* Wind: The stronger winds with this system will arrive early
Wednesday morning, and will strengthen through the afternoon.
For western NV, peak winds still look to be around 2-5pm, with a
60-70% chance of exceeding 50 mph, while wind prone areas along
US- 395 and US-95 could see gusts up to 65+ mph. The southerly
orientation could help funnel winds through the US395/I580
corridor with high sustained winds in the 20-30 mph range also
possible. Expect impacts to aviation from enhanced low-level
wind shear/turbulence along with road travel impact to high
profile vehicles due to crosswinds. Areas of blowing dust could
reduce visibility in areas downwind of desert sinks/playas. Wind
Advisories and High Wind Warnings are in effect across W.Nevada.
THIS WEEKEND & THE NEXT STORM UP:
* A second, weaker wave of moisture tracks through the Sierra on
Friday which could provide another 1-3 inches of additional
snowfall for lower Sierra communities and 4-8 inches along
Sierra crest passes.
* Saturday and most of Sunday will see a break in the weather
which may be the best window of opportunity for travel depending
on the road conditions. Be sure to check with Caltrans and NDOT
for the latest conditions and chain control restrictions.
* By late Sunday into Monday, the next storm system is expected to
produce another round of moderate to heavy snowfall in the
Sierra resulting in worsening travel conditions. Overall there
looks to be about a 30-40% chance of see up to 2 additional feet
of snow along the Sierra crest late Sunday into Monday. Fuentes
&&
.AVIATION...
VFR conditions continue through 12/12Z. Periods of MVFR are possible
after 12/09Z for Sierra terminals, with a 30% chance of showers for
KTRK/KTVL. Conditions deteriorate after 12/12Z as the potential for
valley rain and mountain snow increases, bringing periods of MVFR to
IFR, especially for mountain sites. Cloud obscurations will also be
a concern starting this evening.
Wind gusts up to 20 kts from the south and southwest expected this
afternoon with widespread LLWS after 12/06Z for Sierra front
terminals and after 12/12Z for KTRK/KTVL. Strong and gusty winds are
expected by Wednesday afternoon areawide.
-Giralte/HC
&&
.AVALANCHE...
Impacts from heavy snow and gusty winds expected across all
avalanche center terrain starting Wednesday and continuing through
Thursday.
* SWE, SLR, and Snow Levels: 1-3" SWE expected for all avalanche
centers (up to 3.5" in the Tahoe Basin) Wednesday through
Thursday. SLRs at the storm's onset will be between 10-12:1 and
then rise to 15-16:1 by 11pm Wednesday night. Snow levels will
initially start around 6000 ft before dropping below 4500 ft by
11pm Wednesday and staying there through the remainder of the
system.
* Snowfall totals and rates: 1-3 feet possible (with up to 4 feet
along the highest peaks in the Tahoe Basin) with the most intense
period between 5pm and 11pm Wednesday. The strongest snowfall
rates will coincide with that peak intensity period with rates
between 2-4"/hr.
* Ridge top gusts: Strongest wind gusts will occur Wednesday
afternoon until around sunset where gusts will be as high as 100
mph.
-Giralte
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Wind Advisory from 11 AM to 11 PM PDT Wednesday NVZ003>005.
Winter Storm Warning from 11 PM this evening to 11 PM PDT
Thursday NVZ002.
High Wind Warning from 11 AM to 11 PM PDT Wednesday NVZ001.
CA...Wind Advisory from 11 AM to 11 PM PDT Wednesday CAZ070.
Winter Storm Warning from 11 PM this evening to 11 PM PDT
Thursday CAZ071-072.
Winter Storm Warning from 5 AM Wednesday to 11 PM PDT Thursday
CAZ073.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 high wind, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Mt Rose Ski Area reported 13-16 inches of new snow at their base of 8260 feet elevation. Diamond Peak Ski Area reported 9 inches of new snow at their base.
Wind gusts of 66 mph, 51 mph, and 53 mph were reported at Mesonet station WLKNV 6.1 NW Hawthorne (NV DOT), Mesonet station WBKNV 1.9 NW Wabuska (NV DOT), and Mesonet station NSMV 2.4 S Smith Valley (DRI), respectively.
Wind gusts to 60 mph and 53 mph were reported at Mesonet station NBNG 3.2 NE Lahontan Reservoir (DRI) and Mesonet station TOUNV 10.1 NE Trinity Junction (NV DOT), respectively.
Wind gust to 65 mph and 49 mph were reported at Mesonet station WLKNV 6.1 NW Hawthorne (NV DOT), and Mesonet station LUNNV 10.2 W Luning (NV DOT), respectively.
Wind gusts to 59 mph, 46 mph, and 47 mph were recorded at Mesonet station BCBNV 1.5 N Washoe City (NV DOT), Mesonet station ARRNV 1.6 N Carson City (NV DOT), and Mesonet station NNSC 2.3 SW Sun Valley (DRI), respectively.
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, March 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: 1242615, 1242612, 1242613, 1242617, 1242618.