


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Elko, NV
Issued by NWS Elko, NV
089 FXUS65 KLKN 162023 AFDLKN Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Elko NV 123 PM PDT Mon Jun 16 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1241 PM PDT Mon Jun 16 2025 * Hot high temperatures Thursday afternoon have prompted a Heat Advisory for southern portions of Elko County * Strong southwesterly winds will create fire weather conditions for a large portion of northern and central Nevada Friday and Saturday afternoon * A strong system this weekend will help to cool down temperatures to below seasonal norms this weekend && .DISCUSSION... (This evening through next Sunday) Issued at 1241 PM PDT Mon Jun 16 2025 WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW: An upper level trough stationed to the west of the state on Monday will trek eastward and pass through the state overnight into Tuesday. Prior to frontal passage southwesterly wind speeds over portions of Nye and White Pine Counties will be strong enough to warrant fire weather concerns despite fuels currently in the zone of `Approaching Critical`. With scarce moisture availability precipitation is not anticipated with the associated boundary passage. The system will bring the area a brief reprieve from hot weather through Tuesday. Brief northwesterly flow on Tuesday begins to shift more zonal by Tuesday evening in response to a building ridge over the SW CONUS. The associated HPC sets up to the southeast over AZ and NM on Wednesday turning low level flow to a southerly course. This will be the catalyst for an immediate increase in temperatures for the area beginning Wednesday when afternoon highs are forecast to top out in the low 90s for much of the region. Thursday through next Monday...The southerly turn of winds through the profile on Thursday will bear consequences as afternoon highs soar into the 90s and approach the century mark for portions of southeast Elko County. This has prompted a Heat Advisory for southern Elko County for Thursday afternoon and evening. Friday the pressure gradient over the state tightens considerably as a large Aleutian low encroaches on the western CONUS from the northwest. This will increase southwesterly wind speeds Friday afternoon to well above criteria for fire weather conditions. Combined with RH values in single digits for much of northern and central NV fire weather watches and warnings are a possibility IF the GACC fuels call this week updates local fuels to critical levels. Fire weather conditions are expected to persist through Saturday as the pressure gradient over the area remained tight as the low passes to the north. In response to the tightly wound system and its associated boundary temperatures through the weekend and into early next week will fall back to below seasonal norms with forecasted highs ranging in the 60s and 70s through Monday. A series of shortwaves embedded in the upstream flow of the parent trough will traverse across the area early next week. Currently model guidance keeps any precipitation that does initiate to the north along the northern NV border persisting the current dry spell for much of the region. FORECAST CONFIDENCE & DEVIATIONS: Confidence remains high for near record breaking heat on Thursday as well as favorable synoptic setup for fire weather conditions on Friday and Saturday. Confidence is increasing regarding the impact of the weekend`s system on temperatures. No deviations to the grids were needed at this time. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) VFR conditions forecast to persist through Tuesday, gusty westerly winds of 10KT to 20KT with gusts to 30KT will be possible for all terminals through 4Z this evening. KTPH remains AMD NOT SKED due to communications issues with the ASOS. && .FIRE WEATHER... Elevated fire weather conditions will be possible this afternoon and evening due to an approaching upper level trough. This system will only clip northern Nevada, acting to generate gusty westerly winds of 10 MPH to 25 MPH with gusts up to 35 MPH, in concert with afternoon minimum relative humidity levels that can support fire spread as values drop to between 5% and 15%. A strong upper level ridge of high pressure over the SW US will continue to drive temperatures for the region well above normal, there is a potential for near record to record heat for Wednesday and Thursday, although winds for these day will not be as strong as Monday, RH will keep similar values dropping to 5% to 15% during the late afternoons. The next upper trough is expected to approach the region for Friday into the weekend. For Friday again strong winds are expected across the region, and with above normal temps and low RH values IF fuels stay on current trends for curing, fire headlines may be needed. Good news is that with models showing that the track of the upper trough takes it into the Silver state, much cooler temperatures, and higher RH levels are forecast for the weekend, with even the potential for some precipitation as well. && .LKN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Heat Advisory from noon Thursday to midnight PDT Thursday night for NVZ033-038-039. && $$ DISCUSSION...99 AVIATION...98 FIRE WEATHER...98