textproduct: Elko

KEY MESSAGES

* Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms across portions of northern and central Nevada through this evening

* Strong, gusty winds in Central Nevada today

* Precipitation and mountain snow chances increase today through Monday along with cooler temperatures

* Snow chances increase tonight into Monday morning

UPDATE

Issued at 252 AM PDT Sun Apr 12 2026

No changes were made to the forecast this morning.

DISCUSSION

(This afternoon through next Saturday)

WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW: Ongoing precipitation with isolated/scattered thunderstorms this afternoon as the low pressure system slowly moves over the western CONUS. High temperatures today around normal in the 50s to 60s, keeping the precipitation as rain. Highest chances for thunderstorms will be in northern Nevada and around the I-80 corridor. Strong southerly winds across central Nevada with speeds up to 15-25 mph, gusts as high as 35-45 mph. By the afternoon, a brief lull in active precipitation across the region as the front passes over Nevada. By tonight, the next wave will begin to impact over western Nevada moving east with much cooler temperatures, giving more periods of precipitation and increase of mountain snow as low temperatures in the valleys drop to just above freezing. Snow is not expected to reach the valleys as snow levels stay above 8000 feet in the afternoon, but is expected to drop between 5500-6500 feet by Sunday morning. Snow levels throughout Sunday will remain around those levels after sunrise as high temperatures will be just a few degrees below normal in the 50s. More precipitation and mountain snow is expected to continue throughout the day with isolated/scattered thunderstorms picking up again in the afternoon across the majority of northern and central Nevada. Strong southerly winds over White Pine County with speeds up to 20-30 mph, gusts 45-55 mph especially along higher passes and summits. By Sunday night into Monday morning, valley rain will transition to snow as snow levels drop to below 5000 feet as low temperatures expected to drop into the 20s. Valley accumulations expected to be light with the highest amounts up to 0.5 inches (up to 1 inch near Ely). Higher passes and summits could see up to 1-2 inches (2-3 inches along US-50).

Monday, rain/snow mix is expected in the morning and continue till the afternoon as the low pressure system moves eastward and exit Nevada by the end of the day. Temperatures expected to remain up to 10-15 degrees below normal with highs in the 40s and low 50s. Overnight temperatures expected to stay just below normal in the 20s.

Tuesday and Wednesday, calmer weather conditions return across Nevada with gradual warming temperatures reaching back into the 60s and low 70s by Wednesday. Some breezy afternoon winds from the west expected to increase up to 10-15 mph, gusts as high as 25-30 mph.

Wednesday afternoon and into Thursday morning, models show better agreement of another round of weather impacting northern Nevada as a low pressure system along the Canadian border strengthens and clips the state. The system will push into northern Nevada and bring increasing chances for more precipitation. It is not expected to reach into central Nevada and stay north of the US-50 corridor. Slight chance for more mountain snow as this system will also bring in cooler temperatures. High temperatures Thursday expected to see northern Nevada in the 40s while central Nevada cools into the 50s to 60s. Thursday night lows even cooler with temperatures dropping below normal into the upper teens to 20s. Overnight precipitation is not expected as the moisture will have passed over the state by that time.

Friday and into the next weekend, models begin to show discrepancies after the system passes with some showing an upper ridge building over the western CONUS while others show a more zonal flow persisting. The constant with the models is calmer weather conditions with warming temperatures.

AVIATION

Ongoing weather today will keep VCSH and -RA conditions across all northern terminals today with the chance of seeing some VCTS and -TSRA this afternoon, but will remain out of the TAFs as probs are below 30% around the terminals with the exception of KENV. Greatest chances of thunderstorms occurring this afternoon will be more across the northern terminals particularly in northeast Nevada. Strong southerly winds over the central terminals with speeds up to 15-25 kts, gusts 25-35 kts in KPTH and 25-35 kts, gusts 40-50 kts in KELY. By the afternoon, the weather is expected to dissipate with lighter winds (with the exception of KELY still seeing strong southerly winds up to 15-25 kts, gusts 25-35 kts) until late evening/overnight hours as the next wave moves into Nevada from the west. -RA conditions expected to reach over terminals KWMC, KBAM and even KTPH with PROB30 of transitioning to -SN conditions as cooler temperatures move in. This next front is also expected to increase winds across all terminals with speeds up to 15-20 kts, gusts 20-30 kts with the exception of KELY still seeing strong winds up to 20-25 kts, gusts 30-35 kts.

LKN Watches/Warnings/Advisories

Wind Advisory from 7 AM this morning to 5 PM PDT this afternoon NVZ035.