A strong upper ridge over the southwest along with an upper trough over the Pacific created southwesterly flow over Nevada that created breezy and windy conditions.
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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 LKN wrote it up.
A strong upper ridge over the southwest along with an upper trough over the Pacific created southwesterly flow over Nevada that created breezy and windy conditions.
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 Mar 24, 11:50 AM PST, 7 hours 47 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Elko NV 1250 PM PDT Tue Mar 24 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... * Record warmth is expected in most of Northern and Central Nevada thru the weekend * Strong winds over northern NV expected Wednesday and Thursday afternoon * Dry weather will persist thru the weekend && .DISCUSSION... (This afternoon through next Tuesday) WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW: The historic heat wave continues for northern and central NV this week. The dome of high pressure responsible for hot high temperatures across the southwest CONUS remains entrenched to the south of the area. This keeps NV mainly in west-southwest flow in the northwestern quadrant of the high pressure system. In response temperatures through next Monday are forecast to continue setting daily high temperature records at all climate sites in the region. A tightening zonal pressure gradient between the high to the south and an upper level trough to the north will enhance the wind profile over northern NV Wednesday and Thursday. A very subtle shortwave embedded in said flow will add some dynamical forcing to aid in wind production though the bulk of energy with the wave will remain north of the state. Southwesterly wind speeds of 15-20 knots mainly north of I-80 are forecast Wednesday and Thursday afternoon. While these speeds are currently short of advisory criteria future model runs should be scrutinized for increase to criteria level winds. Early next week long-term model guidance depicts a large upper level trough amplifying just off the west coast finally breaking the stagnant hot pattern currently plaguing the region. Both GFS and ECMWF are consistent in the potential for precipitation finally impacting the region by mid week of next week as the trough makes its way into the Great Basin. FORECAST CONFIDENCE & DEVIATIONS: High confidence remains in prolonged heat wave and record breaking possibilities regarding high temperatures. Moderate confidence exists in stronger winds impacting northern NV each of the next few afternoons. No major changes to grids needed at this time. && .AVIATION... VFR conditions are expected at all terminals through Wednesday afternoon under high pressure and fair conditions. Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon southwesterly winds gusts for terminals KWMC, KBAM, KEKO, and KELY will range between 20-30KTs before diminishing after sunset both evenings. && .LKN Watches/Warnings/Advisories... None. && DISCUSSION...99 AVIATION...99
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Station (MORN2) Morey Creek, Elevation 5500 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, March 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: 1316660.