textproduct: Elko

KEY MESSAGES

* Record to near 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 Sat Mar 21 2026

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

DISCUSSION

(Today through Friday)

WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW: The upper ridge over Southern Arizona will shift slightly to the east and south today. Over Northern and Central Nevada, the flow will become more west to east. This will be due to an upper level wave that is forecast to move across the Rockies. At this time, no precipitation is forecast for the area. Winds will be switching to the west and northwest during the morning and afternoon with breezy to locally windy conditions expected. Sustained wind speeds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph are likely. Though afternoon highs will cool into the 70s and 80s, record to near record warmth is still probable at several of the climate sites. Here are some probabilities for high temperatures greater than 75 degrees for select locations across northern and central Nevada on Saturday:

Austin - 20% Battle Mountain - 100% Elko - 99% Ely - 90% Eureka - 50% Jackpot - 45% Jarbidge - 15% Owyhee - 35% Ruth - 30% Spring Creek - 90% Tonopah - 97% Wells - 98% West Wendover - 10% Wildhorse Res - 3% Winnemucca - 90%

A weak disturbance will continue its eastward progression across the northern Rockies and will barely clip the northernmost extent of the forecast area. Some clouds will be associated with this feature but no precipitation is in the forecast. Overnight lows Saturday will be in the 30s and 40s.

By Sunday, a weak upper trough will move across the Desert Southwest with dry conditions continuing over northern and central Nevada. Highs will continue to cool but will remain above normal for this time of year with readings in the 70s to near 80 degrees. Winds will be light. Here are some probabilities for high temperatures greater than 75 degrees for select locations across northern and central Nevada on Sunday:

Austin - 1% Battle Mountain - 10% Elko - 15% Ely - 15% Eureka - 3% Jackpot - 0% Jarbidge - 0% Owyhee - 0% Ruth - 0% Spring Creek - 15% Tonopah - 35% Wells - 1% West Wendover - 1% Wildhorse Res - 0% Winnemucca - 3%

More quiet weather is on tap Sunday night with light winds and lows in the 30s and 40s.

On Monday, model simulations are trying to intensify the upper ridge once again forming over the eastern Pacific and southwest of California. Heights are expected to rise slowly though the day with afternoon temperatures warming several degrees from the previous day's highs. Readings will be in the 70s and 80s and once again, record high temperatures are in jeopardy of being broken. Here are some probabilities for high temperatures greater than 75 degrees for select locations across northern and central Nevada on Monday:

Austin - 10% Battle Mountain - 90% Elko - 80% Ely - 65% Eureka - 35% Jackpot - 20% Jarbidge - 2% Owyhee - 20% Ruth - 15% Spring Creek - 35% Tonopah - 90% Wells - 45% West Wendover - 45% Wildhorse Res - 0% Winnemucca - 55%

Quiet conditions continue through the overnight Monday with lows in the 40s and light winds.

The aforementioned ridge of high pressure is forecast to continue building over the Southwestern United States and Northwestern Mexico. This means more record warmth over the area with readings in the 70s and 80s. Winds will be breezy with afternoon gusts to 20 mph especially in the north. Here are some probabilities for high temperatures greater than 80 degrees for select locations across northern and central Nevada for Tuesday:

Austin - 10% Battle Mountain - 70% Elko - 60% Ely - 40% Eureka - 20% Jackpot - 25% Jarbidge - 4% Owyhee - 25% Ruth - 4% Spring Creek - 30% Tonopah - 55% Wells - 40% West Wendover - 45% Wildhorse Res - 0% Winnemucca - 55%

Dry and quiet conditions persist through Tuesday night with lows in the 40s and 50s with light winds.

The ridge is expected to wobble slightly day to day from Wednesday through Friday. Highs are expected to remain above normal for this time of year with highs in the 70s and 80s with lows in the 30s and 40s. Winds will be breezy each afternoon.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE & DEVIATIONS: Confidence remains high with respect to dry and warm weather through the forecast period. The only change made to the NBM forecast was to use a two to one blend of 95th and 10th percentile winds for Saturday afternoon and evening.

AVIATION

VFR condtions continue over the next 24 hours as high pressure remains in control across the Great Basin. Winds will be light during the overnight but will increase tomorrow during the late morning W-NW10-20G30KT.

CLIMATE

Records continue to fall across northern and central and the next few days will be no different. Most records are expected to be broken by 5-10 degrees. Here is the current round of forecast versus record high temperatures (including the year they were set) for March 21-25:

March 21: KEKO: 78/2004 78 KELY: 76/2004 78 KP68: 79/2004 77 KTPH: 79/2004 80 KWMC: 80/2004 77

March 22: KEKO: 72/1960 71 KELY: 72/2004 73 KP68: 75/2004 73 KTPH: 76/2004 79 KWMC: 77/1977 70

March 23: KEKO: 72/1998 76 KELY: 71/2004 78 KP68: 72/2004 77 KTPH: 76/1998 82 KWMC: 77/1960 77

March 24: KEKO: 72/1956 80 KELY: 72/1908 81 KP68: 71/2022 82 KTPH: 75/2022 84 KWMC: 76/2022 81

March 25: KEKO: 77/2022 81 KELY: 74/2022 85 KP68: 76/2022 82 KTPH: 79/2022 85 KWMC: 80/2022 80

LKN Watches/Warnings/Advisories

None.