Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Elko, NV
Issued by NWS Elko, NV
722 FXUS65 KLKN 232149 AFDLKN Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Elko NV 249 PM PDT Sun Jun 23 2024 .SYNOPSIS...Dry with warmer than normal temperatures persist thru Tuesday with the typical afternoon breezes also present. Probabilities for showers and thunderstorms return Tuesday and Wednesday. && .SHORT TERM...Tonight through Monday night. Southwesterly flow remains poised over the forecast region tonight and tomorrow as broad high pressure resides over the four corners region while low pressure is situated over the Gulf of Alaska. Any virga or weak dry thunderstorms present over southeast White Pine County this afternoon will dissipate this evening. Sky cover and winds will also diminish across the forecast region with clear skies and light to calm winds present tonight. Similar weather is expected Monday with cumulus buildups, virga, and a weak dry thunderstorm or two possible over the higher elevations of southeast White Pine County. Latest numerical guidance continues to advertise increased moisture and modest instability. Based on this, virga and dry thunderstorms have been introduced into the forecast for Monday afternoon over these higher elevation areas. However, the greatest opportunity for showers and thunderstorms will be to the east and southeast in Utah with the boundary of the more ideal PWATs and instability residing southwest to northeast, barely clipping the southeast corner of White Pine County. There is relatively low confidence for dry thunderstorms, though there is enough signal in the guidance to warrant the addition of such into the forecast. Otherwise dry weather expected elsewhere under mostly sunny skies with the typical afternoon breezes present, gusting 20 to 25 mph. Conditions again become benign for Monday night. There is a Heat Advisory in effect (thru Wednesday evening) for southeast Elko county including Wendover for daytime high temperatures in the upper 90s, much warmer than normal, and overnight lows in the low to mid 70s which will limit relief from the hot daytime conditions. Temperatures elsewhere will also be warm with overnight lows tonight residing in the upper 40s to upper 50s. Daytime highs Monday will be in the upper 80s to upper 90s with overnight lows again in the upper 40s to upper 50s. && .LONG TERM...Tuesday through Sunday The Silver State continues to remain between two major upper level features as the first week of Summer begins. The first main upper level feature is the upper level troughing over the Canadian Maritime, shortwave working through the strong westerly flow will help drive the occasional front into northern Nevada during the week but not really affecting temperatures. The second feature is a strong subtropical ridge of high pressure that will meander between New Mexico and the Rio Grande valley of western Texas. The surface component of this feature is the moist monsoonal flow that will continue to drift north over the four corners. This moisture will very slow work westward during the week, helping enhance the mid level moisture across Nevada. For Tuesday this flow will first help develop some convective buildups and perhaps occasional virga with an occasional lightning strike across central NV. By Wednesday two key changes help focus the mid level moisture the upper ridge will shift west help guide the moist flow into NV, and second, moisture will be concentrated by a weak shortwave trough transiting the southwesterly flow. This shortwave will push a boundary into central NV allowing for a 20% to 30% chance for a mix of isolated to scattered dry and wet thunderstorms across mainly eastern NV Wednesday evening. Models have become a bit more bullish on precipitation, favoring more wet storm modes. But have also been quicker with the frontal passage which now may any measurable precipitation east of the Rubies, and keep all but far southern White Pine county dry for Thursday. By Friday the trough and the ridge move east with the trough and front pushing the mid level moisture out of the area again, leaving quiet conditions for Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures will begin the week in the upper 80s to upper 90s, running about 10+ degrees above normal. Temperatures will cool a bit across northern Nevada with the passage of a front Friday into the upper 70s to upper 80s. Central Nevada will not feel any relief as highs remain in the upper 80s to upper 90s as this front stalls just north of the US-50 corridor. Highs across the north will recover quickly back into the mid 80s to mid 90s by the weekend as the upper ridge shifts slightly westward. Overnight lows will also start above normal in the low 50s to 60s, a brief cool down into the mid 40s to mid 50s Friday across the north before returning to the low 50s to low 60s for the weekend. Winds for the extended will be generally out of the west to WSW for the week at 5 MPH to 15 MPH with the occasional gust up to 25 MPH. Winds will pick up across the north Thursday and Friday as the front moves through, with W to WNW winds of 10 MPH to 25 MPH with gusts up to 35 MPH possible. && .AVIATION...VFR conditions will be the primary flight conditions through Monday. Westerly to SW flow aloft will drive surface winds out of the W to WSW at 10KT to 20KT with a few gusts up to 30KT possible this afternoon. && .FIRE WEATHER...Hot and dry conditions continue across the region with afternoon high temperatures in the upper 80s to upper 90s and minimum afternoon RH values less than 15% Monday and Tuesday. Generally southwesterly afternoon breezes will also continue Monday and Tuesday with gusts 20 to 25 mph. Stronger westerly winds mid week in response to an upper trof and surface front moving across the region. Gusts 30 to 35 mph should be expected for for most by Thursday. Numerical guidance indicates weak instability and modest PWATs pushing into portions of east-central NV and based on this, virga and dry thunderstorms have now been introduced into the forecast for Monday afternoon over higher elevation areas of southeast zone 425, including the potential for a few lightning strikes over or near Great Basin National Park. Isolated showers and thunderstorms, including dry thunderstorms, continue to look increasingly possible on Tuesday and Wednesday across most zones across the forecast region with areal coverage of thunderstorms diminishing Thursday. Given the expected increase in PWATs, afternoon minimum RH values will reside greater than 15% thru mid week as well. && .HYDROLOGY...Temperatures remain well above normal today and into next week. Rises on some area streams and creeks coming off higher terrain are expected over the next few days, but not expecting any new flooding as the snow pack is greatly diminished. Wildhorse Reservoir water level remains elevated from spring snow melt. && .LKN Watches/Warnings/Advisories... Heat Advisory until 8 PM PDT Wednesday Southeastern Elko County. && $$ 92/98/98/92/98