textproduct: Elko

KEY MESSAGES

* Record warmth is expected across all of Northern and Central Nevada each afternoon today through at least Tuesday

* Dry weather will persist through at least the middle of next week

UPDATE

Issued at 1201 AM PDT Fri Mar 20 2026

The current forecast is on track. No updates are needed.

DISCUSSION

(Today through Thursday)

WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW: Record smashing warmth persists, with high temperatures expected to reach 5-10 degrees above historical record levels this afternoon. High pressure has continued to be dominant over the Desert Southwest, allowing temperatures to climb into the mid 80s across the area. Overnight temperatures are equally above average, with nightly lows in the upper 30s and 40s for the next several nights, outside of the usual coldest valleys. The high pressure center shifts south this weekend, allowing flow over Nevada to return to near zonal. This will allow temperatures to drop back to near historical record levels, dropping to the mid to upper 70s for Sunday, before high pressure begins to rebuild for early next week. Afternoon winds are also expected to strengthen during this time, with gusts around 25 mph for Monday through Wednesday. The potential wetter pattern mentioned in yesterdays forecast has dried out again, but signals for at least a brief return of below record temperatures late next week persist with this run.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE & DEVIATIONS: High confidence in persistent record or near record warm temperatures through at least Tuesday. Low confidence of cooler temperatures late next week. Blended base NBM output with NBM 25th percentile and lowered the usual cold valleys an additional few degrees for low temperatures tonight and tomorrow night as the NBM has consistently been too warm overnight.

AVIATION

VFR condtions persist at all terminals thru the next 24 hours as high pressure remains in control across the Great Basin. Winds will be light, around 10KT or less.

CLIMATE

Records continue to fall across the coverage area and the next few days will be no different, with most records expected to be broken by 5-10 degrees. Here is the current round of forecast versus record high temperatures for March 20-23:

March 20: KEKO: 76/2004 85 KELY: 76/2004 84 KP68: 79/2004 85 KTPH: 79/2004 86 KWMC: 79/2004 85

March 21: KEKO: 78/2004 79 KELY: 76/2004 79 KP68: 79/2004 78 KTPH: 79/2004 81 KWMC: 80/2004 78

March 22: KEKO: 72/1960 72 KELY: 72/2004 74 KP68: 75/2004 74 KTPH: 76/2004 79 KWMC: 77/1977 72

March 23: KEKO: 72/1998 77 KELY: 71/2004 78 KP68: 72/2004 77 KTPH: 76/1998 81 KWMC: 77/1960 77

LKN Watches/Warnings/Advisories

None.