Snow began in the Sierra during the late afternoon and night of the 10th, with accumulations of 4-8 mainly above 7000 feet. 5 feet above 7000 feet.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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.
Snow began in the Sierra during the late afternoon and night of the 10th, with accumulations of 4-8 mainly above 7000 feet. Persistent bands of heavier snow spread across the Sierra through the weekend of the 11th and 12th, with overall storm totals of 1-2 feet down to lake level in the Tahoe basin and 2 to 3.5 feet above 7000 feet. Scattered light snow with accumulations up to 2 extended into far western NV on the morning of the 12th. Precipitation totals from this storm were light (generally less than 0.25 ) across lower elevations, while 1.5-3 inches fell in the eastern Sierra/Tahoe basin with locally up to 5 near the crest.
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 Apr 11, 12:56 PM PST, 4 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Reno NV
156 PM PDT Sat Apr 11 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
* Colder this weekend with rain and mountain snow increasing this
evening and overnight, producing winter travel impacts for the
Sierra. Rain and snow showers continue through Sunday evening.
* A slight 10-20% chance for additional thunderstorms continue
through Sunday afternoon.
* Periods of gusty-strong winds this weekend, with peak gusts in
the Sierra extending into Mineral County from late this
afternoon through late tonight.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
* Storm Timing through Tonight: We're currently in a break
between yesterday's activity and the arrival of the main storm
toward sunset, apart from a few light showers near/west of the
Sierra crest with snow levels near 7000-7500 ft. The latest high
resolution guidance continues to indicate increasing precip
rates in the Sierra/northeast CA between 5-8 PM with little
change in snow levels. Then from late evening and overnight as
the main low moves onshore accompanied by a cold front, snow
levels will quickly drop to lake level around Tahoe and then
bottom out to near 4000-4500 ft in the pre-dawn hours Sunday,
near the tail end of the main precip band.
* Winds through Sunday: Ahead of this precip band, S-SW winds will
continue increasing later this afternoon through tonight.
Signals point to a 4-6 hour period of stronger gusts near 50 mph
with wind prone areas reaching 60 mph in Mineral/southern Lyon
County, therefore a Wind Advisory was issued. Elsewhere we can
expect gusts of 25-40 mph with a few gusts to 50 mph in wind
prone areas and also briefly along the cold front. Sierra ridge
gusts peak at 80+ mph tonight, and remain in the 50-70 mph range
through Sunday evening before diminishing overnight. As for
winds today, expect southerly winds across the region. We'll see
another round of brisk SW-W winds on Sunday, with gusts mainly
25-35 mph.
* Sierra Snow Rates through Sunday: Guidance still shows a period
of heavier snowfall rates reaching 2-3"/hour from around 10-11
PM late tonight through 3-4 AM Sunday morning in the Sierra.
Avoid travel if possible across Sierra passes as roads will
rapidly become snow covered. For the latest forecast snow totals
with this storm, please see the current Winter Storm Warnings.
Additional snow shower bands developing during the day Sunday
could produce brief 1-2"/hour snow rates and produce periods of
slick travel especially for Sierra passes. The shower activity
is projected to wind down Sunday evening.
* Foothill/Lower Elevation Rain/Snow: The majority of precip in
western NV will fall as rain (ranging from trace amounts to
0.20", except up to 0.50" for foothills). However, snow levels
will drop low enough for snow in foothill locations early
Sunday morning around western NV. Current guidance shows a
30-50% for up to 1" of accumulation above 5000 feet, including
Virginia City. We also can not rule a brief rain/snow mix on the
valley floors in western NV early Sunday morning, but given the
recent warm conditions, no accumulations are anticipated.
* Thunderstorm Chances This Weekend: Thunderstorms currently over
the I-5 corridor will approach the Sierra through this
afternoon. However, these storms will move into limited
instability with thicker cloud cover in place, keeping the
chance for lightning below 20% near the Sierra crest northward
to western Lassen County. Then with the cold front tonight, a
few lightning strikes could pop up over northwest and west
central NV, and also in the Sierra during the peak snow
intensity. Sunday's chilly and showery regime with colder air
aloft as the upper low center approaches western NV sets up the
stage for isolated lightning with rain/snow or pellet showers,
with this potential favoring northeast CA and west central NV
near/east of US-95. Storm coverage and intensity will be much
less compared to Friday afternoon.
* Sunday Night through Next Week: Temperatures dip to near
freezing for western NV valleys Sunday night as cloud cover
decreases. Then on Monday a cool northwest-north flow around the
departing storm (along with a weak secondary wave dropping into
northeast CA) could kick up a few light showers through the
afternoon. We'll then see a brief warmup through midweek with
highs near mid- April averages (60s for lower elevations/low-mid
50s near the Sierra) before another fast moving storm drops in
with increasing winds, valley rain/mountain snow showers,
followed by cooler than average temperatures through late next
week. MJD
&&
.AVIATION...
* FL100 S-SW wind gusts increase to 70+ kt tonight then drop
slightly to 50-60 kt through Sunday, resulting in widespread
turbulence and periods of LLWS especially through tonight.
Surface wind gusts at main terminals near 30 kt this afternoon
through Sunday afternoon, with a 20-40% chance of brief gusts
near 40 kt late tonight with the cold front passage.
* Snow rates increase in the Sierra tonight, producing IFR/LIFR
conditions, with 3-6" of new snow by Sunday morning at all
Sierra terminals (50th percentile). Spotty additional
accumulations of 1-4" Sunday afternoon-evening within snow
shower bands.
* Western NV terminals will primarily be rain, but could see some
snow mix with rain late tonight into early Sunday morning,
producing MVFR/brief IFR conditions. Chances for any runway
snow accumulation are less than 10% at KRNO/KCXP/KMEV. Isolated
rain/snow/pellet showers return Sunday afternoon-early evening
with brief MVFR periods. MJD
&&
.AVALANCHE...
Periods of moderate to heavy snow will impact all avalanche
center terrain through Sunday evening.
* Snow totals, levels, and rates: Up to 2 ft of snow along the
highest peaks for SAC terrain, and up to 18" for BAC/ESAC
terrain. Snow levels 7000-7500 ft this afternoon and evening,
then dropping below 5500 ft after midnight with all snow across
avalanche center terrain through Sunday. Snowfall rates peak
late tonight with a 2-4 hour period of 2-3"/hour rates from 10
PM-2 AM for SAC terrain and 12-5 AM Sunday for BAC/ESAC terrain.
Otherwise, rates of 1"/hr or less, except for brief bursts of
1-2"/hour in heavier snow shower bands between 12-8 PM Sunday.
* SLRs and SWE: Snowfall ratios initially a denser 7-10:1 for SAC
terrain and 9-12:1 for BAC/ESAC terrain through this evening.
SLRs increase to 11-13:1 (less dense snow) as the colder air
moves in after midnight through Sunday, with up to 15:1 in
Sunday afternoon's heavier snow shower bands. Additional SWE
(50th percentile) through the remainder of the event mainly
1.0-1.5", with locally up to 2" for higher SAC terrain.
* Thunder potential and wind gusts: Isolated thunder (10-20%) may
accompany tonight's heavy snow band along the main cold front,
and also Sunday afternoon-evening. Peak ridge top wind gusts
S-SW around 80 mph tonight (20-30% chance of 100 mph) and 60-70
mph Sunday.
&&
.REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
NV...Winter Storm Warning from 2 PM this afternoon to 11 PM PDT
Sunday NVZ002.
Wind Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to 2 AM PDT Sunday NVZ001.
CA...Winter Weather Advisory from 2 PM this afternoon to 11 PM PDT
Sunday CAZ071.
Winter Storm Warning from 2 PM this afternoon to 11 PM PDT
Sunday CAZ072-073.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Reno NV
1001 AM PDT Sat Apr 11 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0632 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 6 NW Hawthorne 38.59N 118.71W
04/10/2026 M60 MPH Mineral NV Mesonet
Peak outflow gust at Mesonet station WLKNV
6.1 NW Hawthorne (NV DOT).
0450 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NW Reno 39.56N 119.85W
04/10/2026 M59 MPH Washoe NV Mesonet
Peak outflow gust at Mesonet station NV013
Northwest Reno.
0545 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 8 SW Nixon 39.75N 119.46W
04/10/2026 M58 MPH Washoe NV Mesonet
Peak outflow gust at Mesonet station RGX
Virginia Peak.
0617 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 5 ENE Yerington 39.01N 119.08W
04/10/2026 M56 MPH Lyon NV Mesonet
Peak outflow gust at Mesonet station EW0588
Yerington.
0431 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NNE Washoe City 39.34N 119.80W
04/10/2026 M51 MPH Washoe NV Mesonet
Peak outflow gust at Mesonet station BCBNV
1.5 N Washoe City (NV DOT).
0458 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 1 NNE Washoe City 39.34N 119.80W
04/10/2026 M51 MPH Washoe NV Mesonet
Peak outflow gust at Mesonet station RRONV
Us-395 Sb Red Rock Off-Ramp Wwd.
0511 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 SW New Washoe City 39.27N 119.82W
04/10/2026 M51 MPH Washoe NV Mesonet
Peak outflow gust at Mesonet station WASNV
3.2 S Washoe City (NV DOT).
0405 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 2 NNE Washoe City 39.35N 119.79W
04/10/2026 M50 MPH Washoe NV Mesonet
Peak outflow gust at Mesonet station GLCNV
2.3 NE Washoe City (NV DOT).
0727 PM Tstm Wnd Gst 3 ENE Stagecoach 39.38N 119.32W
04/10/2026 M50 MPH Lyon NV Mesonet
Peak outflow gust at Mesonet station STGNV
2.8 E Stagecoach (NV DOT).
0711 AM Snow Mt. Rose Ski Base 39.32N 119.89W
04/11/2026 E8.0 Inch Washoe NV Public
New snow 6-8 inches.
0920 AM Snow 1 W Donner 39.33N 120.32W
04/11/2026 M7.9 Inch Nevada CA Local Official
New snow at Central Sierra Snow Lab. Station
Elevation: 6894 ft.
0555 AM Snow Palisades Tahoe Ski Bas 39.19N 120.24W
04/11/2026 E7.0 Inch Placer CA Public
New snow at upper mtn 8000 ft. 1 inch new
snow at Alpine base 6950 ft.
0615 AM Snow Mammoth Mountain Ski Ba 37.65N 119.04W
04/11/2026 E7.0 Inch Mono CA Public
New snow at summit 11053 ft. 4 inches new
snow at main lodge 8900 ft.
0948 AM Snow 1 NNW Incline Village 39.27N 119.97W
04/11/2026 M3.8 Inch Washoe NV Trained Spotter
Station Elevation: 7553 ft.
0730 AM Snow June Mountain Ski Base 37.76N 119.09W
04/11/2026 E2.0 Inch Mono CA Public
New snow at Chalet 8700 ft.
0902 AM Rain 1 WSW Meyers 38.85N 120.02W
04/11/2026 M1.08 Inch El Dorado CA Mesonet
Mesonet station RWBC1 Baron.
0830 AM Rain Spooner Summit 39.10N 119.91W
04/11/2026 M0.96 Inch Douglas NV Mesonet
Mesonet station NSPO Spooner Summit (DRI).
0834 AM Rain 1 E Blairsden 39.78N 120.59W
04/11/2026 M0.88 Inch Plumas CA Mesonet
Mesonet station MWKC1 Denten Creek.
0948 AM Rain 1 NNW Incline Village 39.27N 119.97W
04/11/2026 M0.80 Inch Washoe NV Trained Spotter
Liquid total including 3.75 inches snow.
0848 AM Rain Markleeville 38.69N 119.78W
04/11/2026 M0.76 Inch Alpine CA Mesonet
Mesonet station MKEC1 Markleeville.
0900 AM Rain 1 NNE Meyers 38.87N 120.01W
04/11/2026 M0.69 Inch El Dorado CA Mesonet
Mesonet station EW3758 Meyers.
0900 AM Rain 4 WNW Meyers 38.88N 120.07W
04/11/2026 M0.68 Inch El Dorado CA Mesonet
Mesonet station FW7537 Fallen Leaf.
0905 AM Rain 2 N Truckee 39.35N 120.20W
04/11/2026 M0.68 Inch Nevada CA Mesonet
Mesonet station DW9436 Sierraville.
0750 AM Rain 2 SSE Dog Valley 39.52N 120.03W
04/11/2026 M0.67 Inch Sierra CA CO-OP Observer
CO-OP Observer station VERC1 Verdi 2 W.
0838 AM Rain 2 ESE Diamond Peak Ski 39.24N 119.88W
04/11/2026 M0.67 Inch Washoe NV Mesonet
Mesonet station LVYN2 Little Valley.
0910 AM Rain Glenshire-Devonshi 39.35N 120.09W
04/11/2026 M0.66 Inch Nevada CA Mesonet
Mesonet station FW8247 Truckee.
0800 AM Rain Tahoe City 39.17N 120.14W
04/11/2026 M0.65 Inch Placer CA CO-OP Observer
CO-OP Observer station TAHC1 Tahoe City.
0800 AM Rain 2 ENE Walker 38.53N 119.45W
04/11/2026 M0.63 Inch Mono CA Cocorahs
Cocorahs station CA-MN-8 Walker 1.2 NE.
0849 AM Rain 1 NNW Dog Valley 39.56N 120.05W
04/11/2026 M0.63 Inch Sierra CA Mesonet
Mesonet station DOGC1 Dog Valley.
0820 AM Rain 4 SSW Portola 39.75N 120.50W
04/11/2026 M0.60 Inch Plumas CA Mesonet
Mesonet station QCSC1 Carman Saddle.
0900 AM Rain 1 ESE Calpine 39.67N 120.43W
04/11/2026 M0.60 Inch Sierra CA Mesonet
Mesonet station GW0434 Calpine.
0745 AM Rain 1 ESE Hope Valley 38.78N 119.90W
04/11/2026 M0.59 Inch Alpine CA Mesonet
Mesonet station CSRR 1.4 E Hope Valley
(DRI).
0905 AM Rain 1 NE Crystal Bay 39.26N 119.98W
04/11/2026 M0.58 Inch Washoe NV Mesonet
Mesonet station GW0254 Incline Village.
0900 AM Rain 6 NW Genesee 40.09N 120.83W
04/11/2026 M0.56 Inch Plumas CA Mesonet
Mesonet station GW0802 Taylorsville.
0700 AM Rain 1 NNE Genoa 39.02N 119.84W
04/11/2026 M0.54 Inch Douglas NV Cocorahs
Cocorahs station NV-DG-29 Genoa 1.1 NNE.
0853 AM Rain 3 N Meyers 38.90N 120.00W
04/11/2026 M0.53 Inch El Dorado CA ASOS
ASOS station KTVL South Lake Tahoe Ap.
0906 AM Rain 3 NW Truckee 39.36N 120.25W
04/11/2026 M0.50 Inch Nevada CA Mesonet
Mesonet station GW6514 TRUCKEE.
0906 AM Rain 4 W Gardnerville Ranch 38.88N 119.82W
04/11/2026 M0.50 Inch Douglas NV Mesonet
Mesonet station AW055 GARDNERVILLE.
&&The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 heavy snow, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Mt. Rose Ski Base reported 12 inches of snow with a storm total of 21-26 inches. Also, Trained spotter 1 NNW Incline Village measured 7.5 inches with a two day total of 19.75 inches.
Mesonet station WLKNV 6.1 NW Hawthorne measured a wind gust of 55 mph. Also, mesonet station ANCNV 14.9 E Bodie measured a wind gust of 48 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, April 2026
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: 1321643, 1321646.