textproduct: Elko

KEY MESSAGES

* Periods of valley rain and mountain snow persisting through Thursday

* Changeover for northern NV locations from rain to snow early Thursday morning

* Strong winds for northern and central NV Wednesday and Thursday afternoon

* Fair weather conditions this weekend with a gradual warming trend

UPDATE

Issued at 151 AM PDT Thu Apr 2 2026

Showers are increasing in coverage as the next system is approaching Nevada, current forecast is on track with just some timing updates and no major changes planned at this time.

DISCUSSION

(This evening through next Tuesday)

WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW: The first of two shortwaves resides to the east-southeast today after bringing badly needed rainfall to northern and central NV Tuesday and Tuesday night. The second stronger wave while residing still to the west-northwest is already dragging shower activity across northern NV Wednesday afternoon as evidenced on satellite and radar.

The pressure gradient over northern NV will also tighten considerably Wednesday afternoon as the associated 540 low to the northwest encroaches on the Great Basin. This will lead to strong criteria level winds forcing a Wind Advisory on Wednesday through Thursday morning for northern NV locations.

The associated boundary will drag across the state Wednesday night into Thursday morning sending snow levels well below valley floors. Shower activity over the area will changeover to all snow by Thursday mid-morning. While snow totals for elevated peaks and ridges remain robust (6-12 inches on Thursday), valley accumulations for northern NV have backed off somewhat with the latest model run. Current guidance keeps a dusting to approximately half an inch over the I-80 corridor in northern NV. Better amounts closer to 1-2 inches are forecast for SR-225 between Wildhorse and Owyhee where caution should be taken on Thursday.

Ridging builds back into the SW CONUS on Friday and will reside over the area into early next week. The area will experience pleasant conditions and a gradual warming trend through the weekend. By Monday the next potential weather maker for NV sets up and strengthens over the Pacific off the CA coast. Timing of potential impacts with this next system currently reside beyond the forecast period.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE & DEVIATIONS: High confidence remains in valley rain and mountain snow this evening through Thursday. Thunder was removed from Wx grids through Thursday AM as no appreciable model was indicating instability present, not even NAM. That combined with cloud cover today keeping temperatures somewhat subdued led to increased confidence in lack of convection with this system. NBM90 was also utilized in wind and wind gust grids through 06Z THU.

AVIATION

A storm system will affect the area with chances for precipitation with varying flight conditions through Thursday. Strong west to southwest winds 15 to 25 knots with gusts to 35 kt are expected to continue this evening but weaken slightly during the overnight. By tomorrow winds will shift to the northwest during the day with speeds 20 to 30 kt with gusts 40 to 45 kt. -SHRA and/or a mix of -SHRA/-SHSN can be expected with flight categories dropping to IFR/LIFR in the heaviest showers through tomorrow.

LKN Watches/Warnings/Advisories

Wind Advisory from 9 AM this morning to 8 PM PDT this evening NVZ031-033>041.