textproduct: Elko

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1202 AM PST Thu Dec 4 2025

* Very cold early this morning * Light rain/snow showers are likely across Northern Nevada this evening through Saturday afternoon

* Gusty winds in northern Elko County Saturday

UPDATE

Issued at 1202 AM PST Thu Dec 4 2025

Current forecast is on track. No changes have been made to the current seven day forecast.

DISCUSSION

(This morning through Tuesday)

WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW: Behind an exiting system and associated cold front that brought a brief blast of winter weather to northern NV temperatures overnight tonight will fall into teens and single digits across the region. This drop in temperatures is buoyed by northerly flow in the pattern aloft thanks to the Pacific High offshore continuing to direct flow over the western CONUS this week.

A weak, slow moving shortwave riding the flow around the high will begin to impact the region late Thursday. While the bulk of vorticity associated with the system will remain north and northeast of NV, sufficient moisture will begin to filter into northern NV through the day Thursday. The biggest change to the forecast appears to be how far south this moisture will work into the region. Previous runs kept precipitation from the system mainly to the I-80 corridor and north. Now, precipitation chances will extend as far south as northern White Pine and southern Eureka Counties with some snowfall accumulation for mainly Elko County valleys.

Precipitation will initiate overnight into Friday morning over northern Elko County where the best frontogenesis is found at that time. Snow showers will continue to develop and push south into southern Elko through Friday morning. This will be the best time for winter precipitation for locations such as Elko, Spring Creek, and points along the I-80 corridor. Snow levels will begin to rapidly rise early Friday afternoon resulting in a changeover from snow and wintry mix to rainfall for lower elevations. Northern NV mountain ranges and peaks will continue to see snowfall through the weekend. Available moisture maintains position over northern and east-central NV through Saturday. Snow accumulations for northern NV valleys, specifically Elko County are a dusting to an inch at best. Higher elevations could receive up to a foot and a half of snowpack through the weekend. Road conditions along I-80, SR-225, and US-93 will be "worst" during the morning and early afternoon hours of Friday when cautious driving should be practiced. Northern Elko County being closest to the system will see a tighter pressure gradient overhead leading to strong gusty winds Friday night and Saturday morning.

Light rain showers are possible for valley floors through early Sunday AM as the system slowly pushes eastward. Forcing beyond Friday night into Saturday is not great with the system so large impacts over the weekend are not anticipated at this time. The area will dry out into early next week when models are attempting to resolve a system impacting northern NV along the border Monday night and Tuesday.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE & DEVIATIONS: Confidence continues to grow in a system bringing precipitation to mainly the northern and northeastern corners of the state this evening through Saturday afternoon. High confidence remains for cold overnight lows tonight into early this morning as well as strong winds over northern Elko County on Saturday. No major changes to grids are needed.

AVIATION

VFR conditions are expected at all terminals through this afternoon. No precipitation is forecasted through this afternoon.

LKN Watches/Warnings/Advisories

None.