textproduct: Elko

KEY MESSAGES

* Rex Block pattern will form over the weekend

* Warming trend will continue through next week

* Near record high temperatures are possible across portions of northern and central Nevada during the afternoon each day through next week

AVIATION UPDATE

Issued at 256 AM PST Sat Mar 7 2026

Look for VFR conditions to persist through the next 24 hours at all TAF locations. Breezy winds are expected to develop across the KTPH and KELY terminals later this morning and afternoon with gusts to 25KT.

KENV remains AMD NOT SKED due to communication issues.

DISCUSSION

(This afternoon through next Friday)

WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW: Low pressure trough that has been giving us periods of rain is now east of Nevada, leaving behind cool northerly flow over the state with much drier air. There will still be some breezy northerly winds at times with speeds up to 10-15 mph, gusts as high as 25-35 mph and is expected to dissipate to calmer winds tonight (Tonopah still expected to have breezy winds). Gradual warming of temperatures return across the region starting today, and warming into the 60s by the end of the weekend.

As the low pressure pushes eastward, the system is expected to split, forming a cut-off low pressure that will extend southwest into northwestern Mexico over the weekend. At the same time, an upper ridge off the Pacific Coast will strengthen, extending its reach into the western CONUS, which will form a Rex Block pattern. The Rex Block is going to be weak however as the upper ridge of high pressure is not expected to fully strengthen into the United States as a stronger zonal flow over the northern border will hinder its growth, and thus the pattern will be short lived, dissipating by Tuesday. The position of the upper ridge will however push warmer air into Nevada, keeping warmer temperatures up to 10 degrees above normal in the 60s across the region. Winds are expected to be light, staying to a more westerly/northwesterly flow across central and northern Nevada.

Models are showing better agreement with weather patterns for next week, showing a slight northwesterly flow over Nevada after the Rex Block pattern dissipates. This pattern may bring in cooler temperatures over northern Nevada Tuesday putting highs in the 50s, but beyond the discrepancies begin to appear again with a split in models of seeing a long wave upper ridge or a long wave upper trough across northern CONUS. Main consensus is still the warmer temperatures throughout the week in central Nevada with some breezy afternoon winds across the region.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE & DEVIATIONS: High confidence of breezy afternoon winds, dissipating this evening. High confidence of warming temperature trends over the weekend and into next week. High confidence of a weak Rex Block pattern forming over the weekend. Moderate confidence of northwesterly flow over Nevada next week. High confidence warmer temperatures remain into next week. No changes to forecast grids at this time.

AVIATION

Look for VFR conditions across all terminals over the next 24 hour period. Breezy northerly winds today at 10-15 kts, gusts 20-25 kts expected to dissipate below 10 kts this afternoon and evening except for KTPH staying around 10-15 kts. CIG levels expected to improve this afternoon with levels reaching between FL150 and FL200. By the evening into next morning, more clouds expected across northern terminals which may drop CIG levels to FL060. Look for lighter winds and drier weather over the weekend.

LKN Watches/Warnings/Advisories

None.