Strong low pressure moving from the Gulf of Alaska to the Desert Southwest brought periods of high winds to southern 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 VEF wrote it up.
Strong low pressure moving from the Gulf of Alaska to the Desert Southwest brought periods of high winds to southern 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 Las Vegas, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 11, 8:45 AM PST, 3 hours 34 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 945 AM PDT Sun May 11 2025 .SYNOPSIS...Warm temperatures are expected again today, with increasingly gusty conditions this afternoon. Widespread strong winds are expected Monday with gusts of 40-50 mph along with pockets of blowing dust. Temperatures will cool sharply on Tuesday with a slow rebound expected for the remainder of the week. && .UPDATE...Las Vegas, Needles, Daggett, Death Valley, and Kingman are all currently sitting on record warm low temperatures for the day thanks to the overnight cloud cover trapping outgoing longwave radiation. The Lake Wind Advisory for Lake Mead and Lake Mohave went into effect at 8:00 am PDT this morning, along with the Wind Advisory for the Eastern Sierra Slopes, Owens Valley, and White Mountains. The big question we will be answering on this shift will be does the Wind Advisory for the Eastern Sierra and Owens Valley need to be upgraded to a High Wind Warning due to the threat posed by downslope winds. Otherwise, the forecast remains on track with temperatures fairly similar to yesterday and breezy winds picking up across the region as a trough pushes into the Pacific Northwest today before moving into our area on Monday and Tuesday. && .SHORT TERM...Today through Monday. Continuing to watch as an upper level system moves into he region today through early next week. Winds will be the main impact as the pressure gradient increases as the trough pushes out the upper level ridge that has been overhead recently. For today: highest confidence for wind impacts remains to be in the Sierra, Owens Valley, and White Mountains where a Wind Advisory is in effect goes into effect today. Winds will increase this morning in the Sierra then spread down the slopes into the Owens Valley by late this morning. Gusts 40-50 MPH are likely in the valleys with gusts over 60 MPH in the terrain. Higher gusts to 70 MPH are possible this evening in the higher elevations of the Sierra as a mid to upper level jet enhances over the Sierra, but impacts should remain isolated. There is some signal for downslope winds over 60 MPH after 4 PM today into the early evening in the Owens Valley, mainly between Big Pine and Independence, CA. This is where the HREF shows a 40%-60% chance for gusts over 60 MPH, and these probabilities are not all driven by one bullish ensemble member as many members on the meteograms at Independence show 60 MPH+. However, NBM probabilities for over 60 MPH gusts are much lower with only a 20%-30% chance. Hi-res short term deterministic models are split if gusts over 60 MPH will reach the valley. Looking at the expected synoptic set up and comparing it to climatology of past downslope events in the Sierra- the jet streak and associated area of subsidence may be displaced too far north. With this is mind, left the wind advisory and did not upgrade to a High Wind Warning as confidence is too low. Either way- anyone driving on Highway 395 today should be prepared for strong crosswinds and difficult driving conditions. Lake conditions today will also be hazardous as south winds to 25 MPH and some higher gusts will result in waves of 1-3 feet on Lake Mead, Mohave, and Havasu. The Lake Wind Advisory remains in effect for today as boating may be difficult at times, especially for in experienced boaters or smaller boats. Elsewhere today, southwest winds will gust 25 to 35 mph. Some higher gusts are possible on the lee side of the Spring Mountains between Desert Rock and Indian Springs, NV this afternoon, which could cause crosswind issues. Gusts to 40 mph are also possible in northern Lincoln County at times but impacts will be isolated and short lived for today. For Monday: Stronger, more widespread gusty winds over 40 MPH are likely as the trough digs into northern California. An increasing jet is noted at 700mb and 850mb across San Bernardino through southern Nevada into southwest Utah. Issued a wind advisory for many areas along and north of the I-15 as wind impacts are expected, including difficult driving conditions, impacts to travel, and patchy blowing dust. After a lull in the winds in the Lake Mead Recreation area tonight, strong winds and waves to 2-4 feet will develop again Monday. With south winds gusts to 40-45mph and higher waves than today, decided to issue a Wind Advisory for the Lake Mead and Lake Mohave area to heighten the impact wording. Gusts to 60 mph are possible in the terrain. Included the Death Valley area, though the highest risk for impacts will be in the southern half of the area. Also included Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley as there was at least a 50% chance for wind gusts over 40mph and the area is prone to blowing dust. For southern Mohave County and the Lake Havasu City region as well as central Nye into Esmeralda counties- a few gusts to 40 mph are possible but probabilities were lower and the jet is not in a favorable position for gusty winds and wind impacts to develop on Monday. For these areas, did not issue a wind advisory and gusts will generally remain in the 25-35 mph range. Winds will diminish Monday night as we area decouples. Not expecting any other impacts other than the winds as the airmass remains dry and no precipitation will develop today or Monday. High temperatures may cool a few degrees today compared to yesterday but will still be well above normal for this time of the year. Moderate (level 2 of 4) Heat Risk is forecast in most valley areas again today, and High (level 3 of 4) Heat Risk is expected in Death Valley. Anyone with outdoor plans should be aware of the potential for heat impacts- drink plenty of water, take breaks in cool areas, and adjust plans to the cooler parts of the day. By Monday as heights fall and cooler air is ushered into the region, temperatures will cool and Heat Risk drops to Minor (level 1 of 4) for all locations. .LONG TERM...Tuesday through Saturday. After the windy day on Monday, winds will be on a downward trend through the day on Tuesday as the axis of the trough responsible translates eastward across the region. Breezy conditions will persist, with gusts to around 30 to 35mph, particularly across portions of San Bernardino County along I-40, though of additional focus will be the potential for showers and thunderstorms, mainly across the Sierra Crest and Great Basin Tuesday afternoon and evening. The greatest chance for precipitation will be across the Lincoln County Panhandle, where there is a 30-50% chance of measurable precipitation. Forecast QPF remains very low, only a couple of hundredths at best, though lightning strikes and gusty winds will be possible if thunderstorms develop due to the increased ascent and instability on the order of 100-200 J/kg Tuesday afternoon. Any precipitation that develops would diminish and quickly move east through Tuesday evening as the trough continues its eastward trek. Aside from the winds and precipitation chances, Tuesday will also be the coolest day of the forecast, characterized by highs in the 60s and 70s for most, 80s in the Lower Colorado River Valley and Death Valley, with 50s in the mountains. In the wake of the trough, a relatively unsettled pattern looks to remain in place through the end of the week given continued northwesterly to quasi-zonal flow aloft. Not only will this keep the door open for additional troughs to move over the region, but it will also temper the warming trend that's progged to begin on Wednesday. Temperatures will rebound to near and just above normal by the end of the week, with ensembles and cluster analyses in decent agreement that another short wave will move into the area next weekend. While details remain uncertain, this trough would produce another round of breezy to windy conditions as well as another cooldown, so stay tuned. && .AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 18Z Forecast Package...Gusty south-southwest winds will persist through the rest of the TAF period. Strongest winds in the afternoon and early evening with gusts around 30 knots. After sunset, gusts gradually weaken to around 15-20 knots. VFR conditions prevail with FEW-SCT high clouds. Stronger winds will resume tomorrow afternoon with gusts to 35 knots possible. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...For the 18Z Forecast Package...Gusty south-southwest winds will persist through at least sunset. Gusts expected to generally be in the 25-35 knot range. This evening, winds at BIH may become more westerly before weakening and turning north-northeast overnight. In the Colorado River Valley, winds weaken after sunset but hold on to their southerly component. VFR conditions prevail with FEW-SCT mid-level and high clouds. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && UPDATE...Stessman SHORT TERM...Nickerson LONG TERM...Phillipson AVIATION...Outler For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
This gust occurred at Desert Rock-Mercury (KDRA).
The peak gust occurred 40 miles E of Beatty.
The peak gust occurred at Desert Rock-Mercury (KDRA).
This gust occurred 13 miles SW of Moapa.
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, May 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: 1265006, 1265002, 1265008, 1265010, 1265013.