A slow moving storm system brought several days of showers and thunderstorms between the 2nd and 5th. Coverage was relatively sparse on the 2nd, then increased on the 3rd and 4th, with more isolated showers lingering through the 5th.
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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 REV wrote it up.
A slow moving storm system brought several days of showers and thunderstorms between the 2nd and 5th. Coverage was relatively sparse on the 2nd, then increased on the 3rd and 4th, with more isolated showers lingering through the 5th. The strongest storms formed on the afternoon of the 3rd, producing outflow gusts of 50-60 mph across the Reno-Carson City vicinity and eastward to parts of west central NV.
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 May 3, 12:29 PM PST, 1 hour 1 minute earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Reno NV 129 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... * A weather system continues to bring showers, thunderstorms, and cooler temperatures today. Be prepared for recreation and travel impacts due to gusty winds, rain, hail, and mountain snow. * Cool, showery weather with additional thunderstorm chances expected Monday and Tuesday. Snow may impact travel over mountain passes above 8000 feet Monday. * Warm and dry weather returns mid-week. && .DISCUSSION... Today: A Pacific closed low resides west of the Central CA coast today. Forecast guidance keeps this low from making landfall today, but has it moving closer to the coast throughout the day. At the surface, showers and thunderstorms have already kicked off in portions of the Sierra and Sierra Front according to the latest radar returns. Shower chances for the rest of today look to be around 30-50% in NE CA, 70-90% in the Sierra, 50-70% in the Sierra Front, and 20-60% in the W NV Basin and Range. While the entire region sees some risk for thunderstorms today, the Sierra and Sierra Front portions have the best chances of 25-45% this afternoon. Potential storm hazards today include lightning strikes, small hail & ice pellets, erratic & gusty winds, and brief periods of heavy rain. Storm motion looks to be quick (~15-25 kts to the N/NW), so this will lower potential flooding concerns today. Severe thunderstorm chances do look low (<5%), but cannot be ruled out completely as the latest RRFS run shows convective parameters that could support it especially around the Greater Tahoe area this afternoon. Please have a way to receive the latest weather information especially if you have outdoor plans for the rest of today. Area-wide precipitation chances look to diminish to around 10-30% overnight with the exception of portions of W NV south of US-50 which sees a 40-70% chance continuing around midnight. Snow levels also will drop to around 8 kft overnight which will change precipitation type to snow in higher portions of the Sierra. Higher elevations in Mono County potentially have a 40-50% NBM probability of 1+ inches of snowfall by Monday morning. Monday and Tuesday: Model guidance has the aforementioned Pacific upper low take a southwest track along the CA coast on Monday. The low then begins a more eastward track staying south of the CWA as it opens up into trough on Tuesday. With this pattern aloft, precipitation chances will continue on Monday (60-90% across the region) and Tuesday (20-60% along and south of I-80, around 20% or less to the north). Thunderstorm chances for Monday afternoon look to be around 20-30% areawide with Tuesday seeing the same chances along and south of I-80 and <15% to the north. Similar storm hazards to those on Sunday will be seen on both days with severe potential (storms containing 58+ mph wind gusts and/or large hail of 1+ inches in diameter) being low, but still possible. Remember: when thunder roars, go indoors. Area high temperatures cool down a bit on Monday (NE CA and W NV valleys in the middle 50s to middle 60s range, Sierra Communities in the upper 40s) before rebounding a bit on Tuesday. Another concern is the potential for mountain snow at some of the Sierra Passes in Mono County as snow levels look to drop to around 7.5-8 kft during Monday and then down to around 7 kft overnight Monday. This may allow for accumulating snow at recently open Sierra Passes that could cause some hazardous traveling conditions. While the high sun angle at this time of year may inhibit some of the accumulation, the latest NBM probabilities show around a 45-65% chance of 6+ inches of snowfall at the Sierra Crest in Mono County by late Tuesday morning. As active weather expects to continue into the first half of the week, please watch for forecast updates as they become available. Wednesday and beyond: As the trough is absorbed into a larger trough out in the E CONUS, an upper ridge moves over the W CONUS starting Wednesday. This ridge looks to be part of an omega blocking pattern through much of the rest of the work week. This will allow for dry conditions to prevail for the rest of the week with temperatures warming to around 5-10 degrees above seasonal normals. Currently, NE CA and W NV valleys have highs forecast in the lower to middle 80s while Sierra communities have daytime high temperatures in the 70s beginning Thursday and going though the weekend. There is some model uncertainty in the upper air pattern over the weekend though as the GEFS shows a weak trough moving through the NW CONUS while the ECMWF Ensemble shows this feature being merging with a trailing Pacific low. While the dry pattern and the above normal temperatures expect to continue over the weekend, the GEFS solution may result in a slight uptick in winds though there is low forecast confidence at this time. -078 && .AVIATION... Showers and thunderstorms continue within the region today. Most area TAF sites see around a 30% chance for a thunderstorm to occur through 04/03Z which would cause IFR conditions. The exception is at KMMH which would has similar -SHRA chances bringing MVFR restrictions during this time. Potential hazards with these storms include frequent lightning, brief heavy rainfall, gusty outflow winds around 35 kts, and small hail (less than one inch in diameter). Severe thunderstorm chances are low today (<5%), but are still possible (storms with gusts up to 60 mph and/or large hail of one inch in diameter). Shower chances lessen overnight, but increase again in the morning as more shower and thunderstorm chances are in the forecast on Monday and Tuesday. Lower cloud heights are expected today, which may cause mountaintop obscurations. -078 && .REV Watches/Warnings/Advisories... NV...None. CA...None. &&
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Reno NV
1244 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026
CAZ072-032030-
Greater Lake Tahoe Area CA-
1244 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT ALPINE AND EL DORADO COUNTIES
THROUGH 130 PM PDT...
At 1243 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Ebbetts Pass, or 13 miles northeast of Lake Alpine, moving north at
15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Woodfords, Grover Hot Springs, Mesa Vista, Alpine Village, Junction
CA 89 And CA 4, Hope Valley, Junction CA 88 W And CA 89 N (picketts
Junction), Indian Creek Campground, Markleeville, Turtle Rock
Campground, Paynesville, Indian Creek Reservoir, Alpine County
Airport, and Luther Pass.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3884 11977 3852 11964 3849 11973 3869 11998
3881 12002
TIME...MOT...LOC 1943Z 161DEG 11KT 3857 11978
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CMcSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Reno NV
1257 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026
CAZ072-073-NVZ001-003-032045-
Greater Lake Tahoe Area CA-Mono CA-Greater Reno-Carson City-
Minden Area NV-Mineral and Southern Lyon Counties NV-
1257 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN MONO...ALPINE...DOUGLAS
AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES THROUGH 145 PM PDT...
At 1257 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Walker, or 7 miles south of Coleville, moving north at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Topaz Lake, Coleville, Walker, Wellington, Monitor Pass, Nv 208 At
Douglas-Lyon Co Line, Junction U.S 395 And CA 89, Bootleg Campground,
Holbrook Junction, Topaz Lake Campground, and Smith Valley.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3840 11933 3838 11956 3878 11973 3882 11936
TIME...MOT...LOC 1957Z 171DEG 19KT 3847 11947
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CMcSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Reno NV
148 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026
CAZ072-NVZ002-032130-
Greater Lake Tahoe Area CA-Greater Lake Tahoe Area NV-
148 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EL DORADO...PLACER...SOUTHERN
WASHOE...AND DOUGLAS COUNTIES AND WESTERN CARSON CITY THROUGH 230 PM
PDT...
At 147 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Lake Tahoe, or 10 miles south of Incline Village, moving northwest
at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Carson City, Kings Beach, Tahoe City, Incline Village, Spooner
Summit, Incline Village-Crystal Bay, Glenbrook, Crystal Bay,
Carnelian Bay, Sugar Pine Point S, William Kent Campground, Dollar
Point, Tahoe State Rec Area Campground, Meeks Bay Campground,
Sunnyside-Tahoe City, and Tahoe Vista.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
If on or near Lake Tahoe, get out of the water and move indoors or
inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles
from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not
be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.
&&
LAT...LON 3910 11989 3904 11992 3903 12015 3916 12016
3924 12007 3927 11994
TIME...MOT...LOC 2047Z 125DEG 13KT 3910 11995
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CMcSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Reno NV
155 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026
CAZ072-NVZ002-003-032145-
Greater Lake Tahoe Area CA-Greater Lake Tahoe Area NV-Greater Reno-
Carson City-Minden Area NV-
155 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT ALPINE AND DOUGLAS COUNTIES
THROUGH 245 PM PDT...
At 155 PM PDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles southeast of Gardnerville Ranchos, or 9 miles northwest of
Topaz Lake, moving northwest at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Gardnerville, Gardnerville Ranchos, Johnson Lane, Junction U.S 395
And NV 756, Junction Nv 88 And Nv 756, Junction Nv 88 And Nv 206,
Gardnerville Ranch, Minden, and Junction CA 88 And NV 88.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
LAT...LON 3877 11952 3872 11960 3890 11987 3904 11969
TIME...MOT...LOC 2055Z 141DEG 14KT 3881 11962
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
CMcThe Reno radar (KRGX), 75 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:28 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Mesonet station NV025 Carson City measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 65 mph.
Mesonet station NEMNV 4.6 Gold Hill measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 58 mph.
KRNO measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 61 mph. Also, mesonet station NV013 Northwest Reno measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 60 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, May 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: 1329935, 1330121, 1329934.