Dust Storm and High Wind in Nevada, April 21 to 22, 2026

Name: Dust Storm and High Wind in Nevada, April 21 to 22, 2026
Start: 2026-04-21T10:32
End: 2026-04-22T00:41
Location: Nevada

April 21 to 22, 2026 · NWS LKN · 19 events in 9 counties and zones

A low pressure system over the Pacific Coast pushed into the western CONUS which produced spring and winter weather. Nevada experienced strong gusty winds across the state with tightening pressure gradients ahead of the storm front.

Where it happened

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.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $17,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 19

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS LKN wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

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 Apr 20, 11:02 PM PST, 11 hours 30 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

* High Wind Warning for Central Nevada today * Wind Advisory for Northeastern Nevada today * Periods of precipitation this evening through Wednesday evening * Much cooler Wednesday

Area forecast discussion, Apr 20, 11:02 PM PST, 11 hours 30 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion...Updated
National Weather Service Elko NV
1202 AM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

* High Wind Warning for Central Nevada today

* Wind Advisory for Northeastern Nevada today

* Periods of precipitation this evening through Wednesday evening

* Much cooler Wednesday

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 1202 AM PDT Tue Apr 21 2026

The current forecast is on track. No updates are planned.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
(Today through Monday)

WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW: Winds will increase today, with a High
Wind Warning in effect in Central Nevada and a Wind Advisory in
effect for Northeastern Nevada. Winds will be from the south, with
gusts up to 60 mph expected in the warning area and 45-50 mph in the
advisory area. Blowing dust is also anticipated with the wind and
may reduce visibility to as low as one mile in some areas. High
temperatures will be in the 70s, however a cold front associated
with the low will be passing through the area beginning this
afternoon and temperatures behind the front will be in the 40s.
Showers are also expected behind the front, and some isolated
thunderstorms will be possible in the initial hours. Showers are
expected to be mainly rain in valleys and lower elevations, however
some mixed precipitation or overnight snow cannot be ruled out. Any
lower elevation snow will be short lived however due to seasonal
insolation and daytime temperatures in the 50s for Wednesday.
Precipitation exits the area by Thursday and temperatures warm
again, with daytime temperatures in the 50s and 60s and overnight
lows in the 20s and 30s. Model guidance is still showing signs of
more showers this weekend, however this is currently a low
confidence, high variability situation.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE & DEVIATIONS: Winds were increased slightly for
today due to a history of NBM winds being too low in high wind
setups. High confidence for strong winds today. High confidence in
periods of precipitation this evening through Wednesday evening.

&&

.AVIATION...
Winds will increase at all sites today. As a result, there is a
chance of lowered visibility and ceilings due to blowing dust at
times. Otherwise, ceilings and precipitation are not expected to be
a factor for flight categories in the next 24 hours.

&&

.LKN Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
Wind Advisory from 10 AM to 11 PM PDT Tuesday
NVZ031-033-034-036-038-039.

High Wind Warning from 10 AM to 11 PM PDT Tuesday
NVZ035-037-040-041.

&&

DISCUSSION...94
AVIATION...94

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

18 high wind, 1 dust storm. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Northeastern Nye

When: April 21, 10:32 AM PST to 11:32 AM PST
Where: Northeastern Nye forecast zone
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 38.042, -116.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Station (TMBN2) Timber Mountain, Elevation 9000 ft.

High Wind, Northwestern Nye

When: April 21, 12:05 PM PST to 1:05 PM PST
Where: Northwestern Nye forecast zone
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 38.042, -116.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Station (JBLNV) Sr376 Jim Berg Lane, Elevation 5686 ft.

High Wind, Northwestern Nye

When: April 21, 2:00 PM PST to 3:00 PM PST
Where: Northwestern Nye forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 38.042, -116.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Station KTPH Tonopah Airport, Elevation 5426 ft.

High Wind, S Lander & S Eureka

When: April 21, 3:46 PM PST to 4:46 PM PST
Where: S Lander & S Eureka forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $17,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 39.959, -116.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong winds greater than 58 mph caused an electrical pole to snap. This resulted in electrical lines falling on four cattle and one horse, electrocuting them. This was a total loss of resources.

Dust Storm, Northeastern Nye

When: April 21, 3:49 PM PST to 4:49 PM PST
Where: Northeastern Nye forecast zone
Reported by: Local Official
Coordinates: 38.042, -116.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Local official reported a dust storm on SR 379 in Duckwater, NV that caused zero visibility.

High Wind, Northwestern Nye

When: April 21, 4:11 PM PST to 5:11 PM PST
Where: Northwestern Nye forecast zone
Measured: 66 kt (76 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 38.042, -116.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Station (TQIN2) Quima Peak, Elevation 7984 ft.

High Wind, S Lander & S Eureka

When: April 21, 4:20 PM PST to 5:20 PM PST
Where: S Lander & S Eureka forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 39.959, -116.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Station KP68 Eureka Airport, Elevation 5945 ft.

High Wind, Northwestern Nye

When: April 21, 4:20 PM PST to 5:20 PM PST
Where: Northwestern Nye forecast zone
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 38.042, -116.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Station (CMP26) Warm Springs Summit, Elevation 7550 ft.

High Wind, Southwestern Elko

When: April 21, 4:26 PM PST to 5:26 PM PST
Where: Southwestern Elko forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 41.146, -115.358 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Station (CRSN2) Crane Springs, Elevation 6414 ft.

High Wind, Humboldt

When: April 21, 4:37 PM PST to 5:37 PM PST
Where: Humboldt forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 41.407, -118.112 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Station (MORN2) Morey Creek, Elevation 5500 ft.

High Wind, S Lander & S Eureka

When: April 21, 4:38 PM PST to 5:38 PM PST
Where: S Lander & S Eureka forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 39.959, -116.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Station (COIN2) Coils Creek, Elevation 6745 ft.

High Wind, White Pine

When: April 21, 4:41 PM PST to 5:41 PM PST
Where: White Pine forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 39.442, -114.902 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Station (ALLN2) Alligator Ridge, Elevation 6675 ft.

High Wind, Ruby Mountains/E Humboldt Range

When: April 21, 5:03 PM PST to 6:03 PM PST
Where: Ruby Mountains/E Humboldt Range forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 40.294, -115.130 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Station (RBVN2) Ruby Valley, Elevation 6891 ft.

High Wind, White Pine

When: April 21, 5:11 PM PST to 6:11 PM PST
Where: White Pine forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 39.442, -114.902 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Station (MTHN2) Mather, Elevation 9268 ft.

High Wind, Southwestern Elko

When: April 21, 5:28 PM PST to 6:28 PM PST
Where: Southwestern Elko forecast zone
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 41.146, -115.358 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Station UP995 Osino.

High Wind, Southwestern Elko

When: April 21, 5:45 PM PST to 6:45 PM PST
Where: Southwestern Elko forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 41.146, -115.358 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Station (DDRIO) Riordan, Elevation 6588 ft.

High Wind, South-Central Elko

When: April 21, 8:32 PM PST to 9:32 PM PST
Where: South-Central Elko forecast zone
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 41.146, -115.358 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Station (RLKN2) Ruby Lake, Elevation 5970 ft.

High Wind, White Pine

When: April 21, 9:43 PM PST to 10:43 PM PST
Where: White Pine forecast zone
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 39.442, -114.902 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Station KELY Ely Airport, Elevation 6257 ft.

High Wind, Southeastern Elko

When: April 21, 11:41 PM PST to April 22, 12:41 AM PST
Where: Southeastern Elko forecast zone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 41.146, -115.358 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Station (SPGN2) Spring Gulch, Elevation 5470 ft.

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Dust Storm: Blowing dust that reduced visibility to a quarter mile or less.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Nevada in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history Warnings in Nevada, April 2026

Sources

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: 1320658, 1320606, 1320610, 1320621, 1320663, 1320657, 1320612, 1320661, 1320614, 1320611, 1320613, 1320604, 1320615, 1320651, 1320616, 1320655, 1320617, 1320618, 1320624.