textproduct: Elko

KEY MESSAGES

* Periods of valley rain and high mountain snow beginning this afternoon, persisting thru Tuesday

* Thunderstorms expected both Monday and Tuesday afternoons * Daytime high temperatures in the low and mid 80s by Friday

UPDATE

Issued at 222 AM PDT Sun May 3 2026

The current forecast remains on track and no significant updates are required.

DISCUSSION

(This afternoon through Friday)

WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW: Daytime high temperatures today continue to reside warmer than normal, with readings five to ten degrees warmer than seasonal values. An upper level closed low positioned along the California coast begins to slowly move inland today as well, which will bring precipitaton to Northern and Central Nevada late this afternoon and thru Tuesday evening. Precipitaion type will be valley rain and high mountain snow. Snow levels will be around 9,000 feet early Monday morning, before dropping to about 8,000 feet Monday night. The majority of this precipitation will fall Monday afternoon and Monday evening. Here are probabilities of one tenth of an inch of rain or more for locations in Northern and Central Nevada thru 5 AM PDT Tuesday, May 5th, 2026:

Austin - 81% Spring Creek - 68% Lamoille - 67% Winnemucca - 61% Elko - 58% Tonopah - 58% Battle Mountain - 56% Owyhee - 52% Jackpot - 51% Eureka - 47%

A ridge of high pressure will build northeastward across the Silver State Wednesday thru Friday, resulting in a warming trend. By Friday afternoon, high temperatures throughout Northern and Central Nevada will be ten to fifteen degrees warmer than normal for this time of year with readings in the low to mid 80s.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE & DEVIATIONS: High forecast confidence regarding unseasonably warm weather this weekend. High forecast confidence in periods of valley rain and mountain snow thru Tuesday. Moderate forecast confidence in the possibility of thunderstorms both Monday and Tuesday afternoons. Minimal deviation from the NBM model output with edits focused within the PoP field where a blend of various model guidances was utilized.

AVIATION

VFR conditions will prevail at all terminals thru tonight. Southerly afternoon breezes will be present with the strongest gusts of 30KT situated at KTPH. VCSH and a low chance of -TSRA will also be present at KTPH the latter half of this afternoon. Main threats associated with any SH or TS that move on terminal will be occasional lightning and strong and erratic wind gusts of 45KT or more.

LKN Watches/Warnings/Advisories

None.