A closed low-pressure system off the California coast brought strong winds and fast-moving thunderstorms to portions of Nevada. One storm produced severe winds.
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The episode as NWS VEF wrote it up.
A closed low-pressure system off the California coast brought strong winds and fast-moving thunderstorms to portions of Nevada. One storm produced severe winds.
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 May 3, 10:55 AM PST, 4 hours 20 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 1155 AM PDT Sun May 3 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... * Gusty southwest winds, cooler conditions, and light precipitation chances return to the region through Tuesday. * Temperatures climb to over 10 degrees above-normal late-week. && .DISCUSSION...through Sunday. Upper low off the California coast will gradually push inland over the next couple of days bringing increasing southwest winds, precipitation chances, and cooler temperatures. Increasing winds this afternoon will lead to excellent mixing across the area allowing for temperatures to climb to around 6-10 degrees above normal, which puts Las Vegas right around 90 degrees. South to southwest winds will increase through the afternoon with most areas experiencing wind gusts between 30-40 mph. The probabilities of wind gusts exceeding 40 mph are highest across Esmeralda, Inyo, and western San Bernardino counties as well as along the Colorado River Valley. As a result, a Wind Advisory is in effect for these locations today, with western San Bernardino County persisting through Monday. In addition to the gusty winds, we will see some increasing moisture ahead of the low. PWs of around 150% of normal, or around half an inch, will push into the region this afternoon. This moisture combined with slightly elevated instability across central Nevada and Inyo County will allow for some isolated afternoon showers and possible thunderstorms. Rainfall amounts will generally be light and it's more likely that we will see virga along with some gusty outflow winds near any storms. On Monday, moisture will mainly be limited to northern Inyo, Esmeralda, and central Nye counties where precipitation amounts between 0.10" - 0.25" are possible, with greater amounts in the higher terrain. As the low moves overhead on Tuesday, we will see a return of isolated showers and thunderstorms, mainly over the higher terrain. Temperatures will drop about 10-12 degrees Monday, with additional cooling of 4-7 degrees on Tuesday, but as the low exits the area Wednesday we will see temperatures warming to around 10 degrees above normal by the end of the week along with dry conditions. Moderate Heat Risk will spread across desert valleys on Friday and Saturday, including Las Vegas, Death Valley, the Moapa Valley, the Colorado River Valley, and southern San Bernardino County. On Saturday, Las Vegas has a 50 percent chance of observing their first 100, with increasing probabilities heading into the next work week. && .AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 18Z Forecast Package...Winds will continue to shift to the southeast and eventually south through the afternoon, becoming gusty. Sustained winds of 12-18 knots with gusts up to 30 knots can be expected through mid evening. Additionally, there is a non-zero chance (10-15%) of a stray shower between 20z and 00z, though confidence is too low to warrant inclusion in the TAF. Any shower could promote erratic, gusty winds. Winds will decrease overnight, remaining southerly with occasional gusts to 15 knots. South/southwest winds will then pick up again by 15-17z Monday. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...For the 18Z Forecast Package...A somewhat diurnal wind flow pattern this morning will give way to increasing southerly/southwesterly winds from 18z-22z. Sustained winds 15-20 knots with gusts 30-35 knots can be expected through the day today and into early evening. KBIH, KDAG, KEED and KIFP look to see some of the stronger winds this afternoon through tonight. Additionally, KBIH may see a few showers or even a stray thunderstorm from 20z-02z as activity moves off the higher terrain. Included mention of VCSH in this TAF issuance. Elsewhere, expect dry conditions. Winds to decrease at most terminals overnight. The one exception will be KDAG, where gusty west/southwest winds will persist. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && DISCUSSION...Gorelow AVIATION...Austin For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter
The Las Vegas radar (KESX), 168 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:12 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Two mesonet sites on the Nevada National Security Site recorded severe winds from a thunderstorm 30 minutes apart.
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: 1340376.