A synoptic pattern with high pressure ridging to the east of Nevada and an upper low to the northwest created a strong southwesterly flow over the silver state. This pattern brought some high winds, moisture, and some light precipitation across the region.
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The episode as NWS LKN wrote it up.
A synoptic pattern with high pressure ridging to the east of Nevada and an upper low to the northwest created a strong southwesterly flow over the silver state. This pattern brought some high winds, moisture, and some light precipitation across the region.
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 Jan 3, 1:06 PM PST, 4 hours 37 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Elko NV 106 PM PST Sat Jan 3 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1236 PM PST Sat Jan 3 2026 * Shower coverage will expand this afternoon, with valley rain showers and mountain snow showers through Sunday evening * Southerly winds will be gusty at times through the weekend * Sunday night freezing levels lower, with valleys across much of Eastern NV expected to receive between a trace and a half inch of snow overnight into Monday morning * Above normal temperatures through Tuesday, with below normal temperatures later next week && .DISCUSSION... (This afternoon through next Saturday) WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW: Clouds have been on the increase during the morning and afternoon across northern and central Nevada. Light precipitation is noted across portions of central and west- central Nevada at this time. Winds are breezy to locally windy but are remaining below advisory thresholds. Current synoptic situation shows an upper ridge axis to the east of the forecast area with a closed upper low west of the Pacific Northwest states. A moist southwest flow continues over the area through this evening, bringing mainly rain showers to the valley locations and high elevation snow showers. Snow levels will be at or above 7000 feet with lower snow levels of about 5500 feet in Humboldt county. Overnight lows will be in the 30s. There will be a brief break in the wet activity during the overnight. The upper low will become open with a split in energy along the west coast. Southwest flow will continue over the region with moisture streaming to the northeast. Afternoon highs during Sunday will again reach above normal levels with readings in the mid 40s to low 50s. Winds will be breezy to locally windy though speeds are not expected to reach advisory thresholds. Light valley rain showers with high elevation snow showers will redevelop. Rainfall amounts over the region will range from roughly five hundredths to four tenths in the valleys. Snow levels are forecast to decrease during the overnight at around 5000 to 5500 feet by sunrise Monday. Overnight lows will be in the 20s and 30s. Snow amounts through the weekend are expected to range up to an inch in northern Elko county with passes and summits seeing one to two inches. In central Nevada, about a half an inch is expected with an inch of wet slushy snow over the higher passes and summits. Model solutions on Monday are showing the upper trough dropping south along the western periphery of the United States. This will bring rising heights over northern and central Nevada with showers diminishing. Highs will continue to remain above normal levels though will only be four to eight degrees above normal. Winds will be lighter. Overnight lows will be in the 20s and 30s. By Tuesday, the forecast area will be sitting under a weak west to east flow as the aforementioned upper trough continues its southward progression, closing off over the coast of the southwestern United States. A break in the wet weather is expected with highs remaining above normal levels. Winds will continue to remain light. Overnight lows will be in the 20s. Wednesday through the weekend, the flow is expected to remain west to east with an approaching trough. This will bring increasing chances for showers once again with highs Wednesday remaining above normal with readings in the 40s. However, the flow will switch to a more northwest direction Thursday and as a result, will bring with it much cooler temperatures and lower snow levels. Temperatures through this period will drop into the 30s for high with lows in the single digits and teens. FORECAST CONFIDENCE & DEVIATIONS: No major changes were made to the NBM forecast. Winds were increased slightly for tomorrow across central Nevada. QPF and snow amount forecasts have trended up slightly from previous runs. In addition, the system later next week is bringing in slightly cooler air, resulting in light, though higher, accumulations in the northern sections of the forecast area. && .AVIATION... Periods of MVFR and IFR conditions are expected through Sunday afternoon as a weather system increases VCSH and -RA activity from southwest to northeast at all terminals through Sunday afternoon. KTPH is already observing -RA BR conditions. Northern NV terminals are forecast to see -RA increases by late Saturday afternoon. Precipitation activity will continue through Sunday morning. The system will also lower CIGs at all terminals by late Saturday afternoon when CIGs will be at or below 2000 feet. KTPH is already observing CIGs lower than 1000 feet and all other terminals will join with CIGS lower than 1000 feet by Saturday afternoon. Strong wind gusts are also forecast at KWMC, KEKO, KELY, and KTPH Saturday. KWMC and KEKO are forecast to experience southerly wind gusts ranging 22-25KTs until Sunday morning. KTPH and KELY are forecast to observe southerly wind gusts ranging 25-35KTs through Sunday morning. && .LKN Watches/Warnings/Advisories... None. && DISCUSSION...86 AVIATION...99
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Station (MPVN2) Martin Creek, Elevation 6439 ft.
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, January 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: 1304845.