Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Elko, NV

Current Version |  Previous Version |  Text Only |  Print | Product List |  Glossary On
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
-- Highlight Changed Discussion --
-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
678 FXUS65 KLKN 031014 AFDLKN Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Elko NV 314 AM PDT Fri May 3 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
-- Changed Discussion --
Quiet weather with high temperatures in the 60s with light winds and mostly sunny skies is expected today under an upper-level ridge. Big changes coming into the region for Saturday as a strong Pacific low pressure system makes progress into the Great Basin. Strong, with some damaging wind gusts, are expected across much of central Nevada Saturday where high wind warnings are now in place. A cold front and associated rain and snow will move in late Saturday through Sunday bringing widespread rain, falling snow levels by Sunday morning with some snow in valley areas expected. Showers will linger across northern Nevada into next week with only a slow day-to-day warming expected.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .SHORT TERM...
-- Changed Discussion --
Today through Saturday night Today will be the calm before the storm. Light winds, mild temperatures mostly in the 60s and mostly sunny skies under a high pressure ridge are expected across the area today. Lows tonight will be considerably warmer across western Nevada, only dropping into the lower 40s, as increasing cloud cover ahead of the next low pressure system begins to move into the state. A very dynamic low pressure system will bring increasing south winds to the state Saturday. South winds will accelerate Saturday morning and remain elevated across portions of central Nevada through the evening hours or at least until the cold front sweeps through the area late Saturday afternoon through Saturday night. Blowing dust and damaging wind gusts around 60 mph are expected for central Nevada including the US-50 corridor where high wind warnings are in place. Advisory level sustained winds of around 30 mph are expected across much of southern and eastern Elko county. Blowing dust is quite likely after a week of dry conditions on alkali flats. The winds are just the precursor to expanding rain and snow showers along a strong cold front that will overspread the area through the day and evening on Saturday. Impacts from snow will hold off until late Saturday night into Sunday morning where snow levels drop to valley floors by Sunday morning. Several inches of mountain snow is expected through Saturday night with more through Sunday. .LONG TERM...Sunday through next Friday Sunday, and upper level low remains over the state, bringing with it gusty winds, cooler temperatures, and scattered to numerous snow showers, as well as isolated thunderstorms. Highs will only reach the mid to upper 40s for many, with colder isolated spots. Lows Sunday night are forecasted to be in the low 30s across northern Nevada, and low to mid 20s across central Nevada. Winds will pick up in the afternoon out of the west becoming northwest, 20-25 mph. with gusts 30-35 mph. Gusts could be stronger across central Nevada. Blowing dust as well as blowing snow is possible given the strong winds. As for snow, snow levels are expected to be at valley floors through the day. Eastern Nevada will see the more persistent snows, with a general trace to 3 inches expected. Some locally higher amounts will be possible in the high mountain summits of White Pine, and areas in the Ruby Mountains, as well as the Jarbidge Wilderness Area in Elko county. Ensembles are showing the city of Ely has a 30% chance of meeting or exceeding 2 inches of snowfall. Most of that will fall in the morning hours Sunday. There will also be an isolated chance of thunderstorms from Austin to Eureka, extending north to Battle Mountain and Deeth, and further north to Mountain City, north of Elko. By Monday the center of the trough will have moved east of the state, with lingering Showers and breezy conditions. A short wave quickly moves through the northern part of the state allowing for Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly north of I-80, with mountain snow showers as well. A skiff to up to half an inch of snow is possible north of I-80, in Elko County. Highs rebound a bit in the mid to upper 50s. Lows Monday night remain in the upper 20s to lower 30s for most of the area. Tuesday, another shortwave impulse moves across the northern part of the state, leading to isolated to scattered snow showers across northern and eastern Elko county, with only a tenth or two of snowfall expected. Winds will be breezy out of the northwest 20-25 mph with gusts to 30 mph. Highs are expected to be in the 40s to mid 50s across northern Nevada with, warmer 50s to mid 60s across central Nevada. Lows are forecasted in the upper 20s to low 30s. Wednesday through Friday a low pressure system looks to retrograde over the area, or move from the east back to the west, giving us a period of unsettled weather across northern Nevada. Each day may see some isolated to scattered rain or snow showers. Nothing impactful in the way of accumulation is currently expected. Highs will slowly warm back into the 60s by the end of next week. Winds look to continue being breezy during the afternoons, with northerly winds currently forecasted.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .AVIATION...
-- Changed Discussion --
VFR conditions expected at all terminals over the next 24 hour period, with a ridge of high pressure bringing mostly sunny skies and relatively light winds to the region. KWMC is AMD not SKED due to communication issue.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .HYDROLOGY...
-- Changed Discussion --
Elevated flows continue across several streams, creeks, and rivers throughout northern Nevada due to seasonal snow melt. A strong low pressure system will bring widespread rain and higher elevation snow to much of northern and central Nevada over the weekend. Over half an inch of liquid equivalent precipitation is expected across north central Nevada in northwestern Elko county where most of the flood concerns remain. This will increase flows in several streams and rivers. The Humboldt River at Comus continues to slowly rise and is now in minor flood stage and is expected to remain within minor flood stage. The Owyhee River near Wildhorse is currently hovering near minor flood stage and is forecast to remain near minor flood stage through tonight. Expected rainfall over the weekend could bring levels back above minor flood stage. The Owyhee River near Mountain City will gradually fall further through this week, but remain in action stage.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .LKN Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
-- Changed Discussion --
Wind Advisory from 8 AM Saturday to 2 AM PDT Sunday South Central Elko County...Southeastern Elko County. High Wind Warning from 8 AM Saturday to 2 AM PDT Sunday Northeastern Nye County...Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt Range...White Pine County. High Wind Warning from 8 AM to 11 PM PDT Saturday Northwestern Nye County...Southern Lander County and Southern Eureka County. Wind Advisory from 8 AM to 11 PM PDT Saturday Southwest Elko County.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& $$ 93/91/96