Major Winter Storm to Impact Northern Nevada through Thursday

This is the National Weather Service in Elko here to bring you an updated weather brief for the winter storm that is affecting Northern Nevada now and will last through Thursday. This briefing may be updated later in time, but will depend upon staffing and work requirements here at the National Weather Service in Elko. A complex situation definitely seen on the latest satellite image taken around 4 PM December 25. A strong area of low pressure is depicted well off the western coast of Oregon this time. Out ahead of this system is deep moisture spreading across all of northern Nevada. Model solutions are bringing this storm into the northern Great Basin by later Wednesday afternoon. Winter weather advisories and new winter storm warnings have already been issued for much of northern Nevada through Thursday. Winter storm warnings now cover the entire stretch of I-80 from Humboldt County east to the Nevada-Utah line. The likelihood of hazardous travel will be very high over all of northern Nevada Wednesday and Thursday due to limited visibilities from moderate to heavy snow and snow covered roads creating slippery conditions. How much snow are we expected to get? Here is a map of the forecast storm total snow amounts through Thursday. As you can see, in the areas along and north of I-80, amounts of 6 to 12 inches can be expected through Thursday. Further south in Southern Lander/Eureka, White Pine, and Northern Nye Counties, a general 2 to 5 inches can be anticipated. Look for an extended period of winter weather through Thursday, creating large travel impacts across the Great Basin due to snow. Travel impacts will be high over Humboldt, Northern Lander/Eureka, and Elko Counties, before pushing southward Wednesday and Thursday. At this time the biggest impacts across Northern and Central Nevada are expected Wednesday and Thursday. The above graphic depicts when hazardous travel could be possible due to snow for the travel period through Thursday. All locations in northern Nevada will see snow, making driving hazardous. Reduced visibilities to one mile or less will also occur in the heaviest snow showers. The largest impacts to travel across Northern and Central Nevada are expected to be through the Thursday timeframe. Please allow extra travel time so you arrive at your destination safely. Snow, possibly heavy at times, will continue in the Humboldt, Northern Lander/Eureka, and Elko Counties tonight where winter storm warnings have already been issued. Snow will develop across Southern Lander/Eureka, White Pine, and Northern Nye Counties Wednesday into Thursday, and winter weather advisories are in effect for these areas. Expect hazardous driving conditions as roads will become snow covered and slippery. This has been a web brief on the holiday weather and travel forecast from the National Weather Service in Elko. If traveling out now through Thursday, please take extra time to account for the snow and slippery conditions and arrive at your destination safe and sound. For the latest weather watches, warnings, and advisories, please visit our website at www.weather.gov/elko. Thank you for listening and please have a safe and enjoyable holiday.