446
FXUS65 KLKN 120901
AFDLKN

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Elko NV
201 AM PDT Wed Mar 12 2025

.SYNOPSIS...A strong low pressure system and cold front will bring
windy conditions and snow accumulations across Nevada from today
through Thursday night. Another system will move through Friday
into Saturday, bringing a chance of light precipitation across the
area. After a brief period of drier weather on Sunday, the next
system will move through Monday into Tuesday.

&&

.SHORT TERM...Today through Thursday night

Current satellite imagery indicates mid to high clouds streaming
ahead of a strong low pressure system and cold front moving into
the Pacific Northwest, while high pressure shifts east. Afternoon
highs will range from the upper 40s to lower 50s today, with lows
tonight in the upper 20s and lower 30s.

Ahead of the cold front, southerly winds of 25 to 35 mph will
create breezy conditions, with gusts of 40 to 55 mph, strongest
across mountain peaks and higher summits. A Wind Advisory remains
in effect for White Pine, Southern Lander and Southern Eureka, and
Nye Counties.

Increasing moisture will bring light valley rain and mountain
snow this afternoon and evening. Snow levels around 7,000 feet
will lower to valley floors through the evening and overnight
hours as the cold front moves through, bringing moderate to heavy
snowfall across much of Nevada, enhanced by strong frontogenesis
forcing. Multiple winter weather advisories remain in effect for
elevations above 6,000 feet.

In northern Nevada, valleys can expect a trace to 2 inches of
snow, with 2-5 inches across higher summits and up to a foot in
the Ruby Mountains. In central Nevada, accumulations will begin on
the highest summits by early evening, with snow reaching most
valley floors after midnight. Moderate to locally heavy snow
showers are likely with the passage of the cold front late tonight
into Thursday. Snowfall amounts include 1-4 inches below 6,000
feet, 2-8 inches between 6,000-8,000 feet, and up to 10 inches
above 8,000 feet. Snow tapers off by late Thursday afternoon and
evening. Afternoon highs will range from the upper 30s to lower
40s, with overnight lows in the teens and lower 20s.

&&

.LONG TERM...Friday through next Wednesday

Active pattern continues with a series of troughs that will move
through the Silver State. Each system will bring a mix of rain and
snow with possibility of travel disruptions depending on exact
timing of each system. The first system will move through starting
Friday evening lasting through Saturday afternoon. This system
will be weaker that prior systems delivering about 0.05 to 0.15
of QPF with up to a 0.50 of QPF for the mountains. However,
Saturdays event will have cooler air with it as snow levels are
expected to be below the valley floors for all but the lowest
elevations so snow will be the dominant precipitation type.
Amounts look to be on the light side with up to 1 for the
valleys, 1 to 3 for the passes and summits and up to 6 for the
mountain ranges. There will be a brief break through Sunday
evening before another trough takes aim beginning Sunday night
through Tuesday afternoon. This system will be more similar to
previous systems as overall QPF will be much higher that Saturdays
event. Mondays trough will also be slower to move through which
will give more time to deliver needed precipitation. QPF with the
Monday/Tuesday system will range from 0.10 to 0.60 for the
valleys and passes, to up to 1.70 for the mountain ranges. As
with similar strength systems of the past few weeks the main
question is how much precipitation will fall, but what amount of
it will be snow and how much accumulation could be expected.
Temperatures Sunday afternoon could recover into the low 50s, so
as precipitation starts it will likely be as rain for elevations
below 6500 feet. Colder air will filter in behind a cold front but
snow levels wont fall to the valley floors until Early Tuesday
morning, this will limit snow accumulations for the lower
elevations, but should precipitation keep steady, valleys could
get between a trace to 2 of snow that wont last long, passes and
road summits could get between 2 and 6, with the mountain ranges
getting another 6 to 18 of snow. Another break in the action
will take place Wednesday but it wont last long as models show
another system primed to move in for Thursday. Temperatures will
be on the roller coaster ride with this active pattern as Highs
Friday will range in the low 30s to low 40s. Highs will recover
Sunday into mid 40s to mid 50s, before dropping back into the mid
30s to mid 40s Tuesday and Wednesday. Overnight lows will be on a
similar ride, starting in the upper teens to upper 20s Saturday
morning, warming into the mid 20s to mid 30s Monday morning, then
dropping into the mid teens to mid 20s by Wednesday morning.

&&

.AVIATION...Strong and gusty southerly winds will impact all
terminals today and into this evening, with highest winds across
central NV, including KTPH and KELY. Blowing dust will be a
concern this afternoon and evening. All terminals are expected to
remain dry through the early evening hours, although CIGs will be
lowering today with MVFR CIGs expected at KTPH and KELY much of
the day. A strong cold front drops into NW Nevada late this
evening, bringing stronger winds, at 10% chance of TS and
precipitation with it`s passage. Overnight the front will progress
SE across Nevada, with rain changing over to all snow. CIGs and
VIS will be reduced with the frontal passage, and likely remain
low in snow showers into Thursday.


KWMC remains AMD NOT SKED due to a communications issue with the
ASOS.

&&

.LKN Watches/Warnings/Advisories...

Winter Weather Advisory from 11 PM this evening to 5 PM PDT
Thursday Northern Elko...Southern Lander and Southern Eureka.

Winter Weather Advisory from 11 PM this evening to 5 PM PDT
Thursday Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt Range in Elko.

Wind Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 11 PM PDT this evening
Northeastern Nye...Northwestern Nye...Southern Lander and
Southern Eureka...White Pine.

Winter Weather Advisory from 11 PM this evening to 11 PM PDT
Thursday Northeastern Nye...Northwestern Nye...White Pine.

&&

$$

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