A Pacific low-pressure system moving into the area brought high winds to portions of southern Nevada.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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.
A Pacific low-pressure system moving into the area brought high winds to portions of 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 Apr 12, 3:06 AM PST, 3 hours 56 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 406 AM PDT Sun Apr 12 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... Gusty winds are expected again today, resulting in areas of blowing dust, difficult driving conditions, and hazardous boating conditions on area lakes. Winds will diminish Monday through early week. * Scattered showers are possible at times today and Monday, with the best chances across the Southern Great Basin and higher terrain. * After a break in active weather, the progressive pattern continues as another system may impact the region late in the week. && .DISCUSSION...Through Late this Week. Across the region, elevated southwest winds were reported in response to an upper level low moving into Northern California Coast. Through the early overnight, intermittent gusts over 30 MPH continued, mainly in the terrain. The area will remain under strong west to southwesterly flow through today as the low moves inland and gusty winds are expected to continue. Overnight, the best chance for gusts over 40 MPH will be in Inyo County through the Western Mojave Desert into Clark and Lincoln County, especially as increasing mid- level winds interact with terrain which could cause some downsloping towards early morning. A Wind Advisory is already in effect for these areas. After sunrise, better mixing will allow for gusts to 35- 45 MPH to develop areawide. Widespread probabilities 50%+ for gusts over 40 MPH are noted on ensembles through the afternoon, and additional Wind Advisories go into effect later this morning in the Colorado River Valley and Mohave County as stronger winds develop there. Dangerous boating conditions are expected on area lakes due to gusty winds and building waves, and in general expect wind impacts such difficult driving conditions, patchy blowing dust, and lofted light debris. Winds will diminish this evening, and by Monday the low is expected to be overhead which will keep winds lighter and less impactful than today. As ridging builds in early next week behind the exiting low, lighter winds are expected through early in the week. An impressive plume of clouds and precipitation have developed ahead of the low, with lightning continuing at times overnight. This shield of precipitation should reach the Sierra in the next few hours and snow rates will quickly increase as moisture spills into the Eastern Sierra slopes. Snow will continue in the Sierra through at least the morning before tapering off through the day. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect above as quick snow accumulations are expected. There's a high chance (80% probability) that Aspendell, CA will see 4 inch+ of new snow, but the chances for snow accumulations over 8 inches is 10%. Will continue with the Winter Weather Advisory as it best captures the impacts. Further east, precipitation will struggle today as most of the moisture will be intercepted by the Sierra. The best chances today will be in the terrain with upslope flow interacting with the meager leftover moisture, as well as the northern fringes of the Southern Great Basin which will be closest to the trough axis. This afternoon, short term models are split on how/if scattered showers and an isolated thunderstorm or two may develop in Lincoln County- with some models showing precipitation as far south as northeast Clark County and northern Mohave County. Something to watch as anything that develops there could continue lightning and sudden gusty winds. Monday will be even more interesting as a reinforcing piece of energy digs through the cyclonic flow, which will reinvigorate the low centered over Southern Nevada by Monday afternoon. Moisture will still be rather low, but with increased forcing with the piece of vorticity rounding the base of the low as well as cold temperatures aloft- scattered showers and thunderstorms may develop in areas north of the I-15. Models are struggling with how much activity is able to develop Monday afternoon so low confidence in precipitation chances as well as impacts such as brief moderate rainfall, small hail, lightning, and suggest gusty winds. Improving conditions will return Tuesday and Wednesday as flat high pressure ridging attempts to build in. After near to slightly below temperatures through Tuesday, temperatures are expected to warm and climb back to slightly above normal. It will be a brief break though- a shortwave moving inland over the PacNW may attempt to drop southward Thursday across the Great Basin and central Rockies. Forecast guidance is struggling to resolve this feature which may remain progressive with only a subtle cooling Thursday and Friday, or, if the more aggressive solutions pan out, bring sharper cooling and gusty winds. For now, forecast remains fairly conservative with modest cooling and breezy conditions on Thursday. && .AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 12Z Forecast Package...South- southwest winds persist, strongest in the late morning and afternoon hours when gusts of 25-35 knots are likely (80%). Expecting some showers to develop in the Las Vegas vicinity this afternoon and early evening, though chances of rain at the terminal are on the order of 10-20%. Cannot rule out a few rumbles of thunder (5%). Few to scattered clouds at or above 10kft, though a brief period of ~8kft CIGs is possible should a shower move overhead. Precipitation chances wane after sunset and sky conditions improve. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...For the 12Z Forecast Package...Southerly to westerly winds continue across the region today, with widespread gusts of 25- 35 knots. Precipitation chances gradually advance eastward throughout the day, with best odds (10-50%) along and north of the I- 15 corridor. Erratic winds and CIGs down to ~6kft possible in and around shower activity. Rain chances wane after sunset with improving sky conditions. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && DISCUSSION...Nickerson AVIATION...Woods 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.
3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Desert Rock ASOS recorded a single observation of high wind.
A mesonet station at the Nevada National Security Site recorded high winds for a brief period of time.
Mountain Springs RAWS briefly recorded high wind.
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: 1334989, 1334988, 1334990.