A powerful winter storm moved through the northern Sierra and western Nevada the last week of December.  Ahead of the system strong winds caused widespread damage across the region on the 26th.  Then as the storm moved through on the 27th up to 2 feet of snow fell in the Sierra.

Heavy Snow in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, NEVADA
From 27-DEC-06 02:00:00 to 27-DEC-06 12:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Six inches of snow fell along the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe.  Slick conditions led to a 12-car pileup on U.S. Highway 50 at Cave Rock.  The westbound lane of the highway was closed for 2 hours.  Two people were sent to the hospital with injuries.

High Wind in MINERAL/SOUTHERN LYON, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 05:00:00 to 26-DEC-06 05:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Wind gusts estimated at 61 knots (70 mph) knocked over two semitrailers on U.S. Highway 95 four miles north of Hawthorne.  One of the tractor-trailers was partially loaded and the other was pulling two empty trailers, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.

High Wind in GREATER RENO/CARSON CITY/MINDEN AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 08:00:00 to 26-DEC-06 17:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Wind gusts estimated at 70 knots (80 mph) moved through the Virginia City area.  Extensive damage was reported throughout the area.  Power lines which were knocked down caused power outages.  A sign for the Comstock Motel was blown down along with a nearby shed.  Other outbuilding were blown over.  At the Gold Mill Hotel a porch roof of one of the guest cabins was blown off by the strong wind.  The old railroad depot in town lost planking.

Heavy Snow in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 22:00:00 to 27-DEC-06 14:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A total of 8 inches of snowfall was reported by a trained spotter 2 miles ESE of Incline Village.

High Wind in GREATER RENO/CARSON CITY/MINDEN AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 08:43:00 to 26-DEC-06 08:43:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A 50 knot (58 mph) wind gust was recorded by a wind sensor at Damonte Ranch High School in south Reno.

High Wind in GREATER RENO/CARSON CITY/MINDEN AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 09:52:00 to 26-DEC-06 09:52:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A 63 knot (72 mph) wind gust was reported by a trained weather spotter 5 miles east of Gardnerville at an elevation of 5120 feet.

High Wind in GREATER RENO/CARSON CITY/MINDEN AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 11:00:00 to 26-DEC-06 11:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

A 51 knot (59 mph) wind gust was recorded by the NDOT wind sensor in east Sparks.

Heavy Snow in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 22:00:00 to 27-DEC-06 14:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A total of 14 inches of snowfall was reported at Heavenly Ski Resort.

Heavy Snow in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 22:00:00 to 27-DEC-06 14:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A total of 16 inches of snowfall was reported at the Mt. Rose Ski Area.

High Wind in GREATER RENO/CARSON CITY/MINDEN AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 13:00:00 to 26-DEC-06 13:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 63.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A 63 knot (73 mph) wind gust was recorded by the Galena RAWS 8 miles south of Reno.

High Wind in MINERAL/SOUTHERN LYON, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 14:32:00 to 26-DEC-06 14:32:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 60.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A 60 knot (69 mph) wind gust was recorded by the wind sensor in Pleasant Valley 10 miles south of Reno.  Blowing dust was also reported.

High Wind in MINERAL/SOUTHERN LYON, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 14:55:00 to 26-DEC-06 14:55:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A 54 knot (62 mph) wind gust was reported at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in north Reno.

High Wind in GREATER RENO/CARSON CITY/MINDEN AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 15:20:00 to 26-DEC-06 15:20:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A 58 knot (67 mph) wind gust was recorded at the Desert Springs RAWS 12 miles NNE of Reno.

High Wind in GREATER RENO/CARSON CITY/MINDEN AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 15:29:00 to 26-DEC-06 15:29:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A 54 knot (62 mph) wind gust was reported by a trained weather spotter near the intersection of Baring Blvd. and Springland in Sparks.

High Wind in GREATER RENO/CARSON CITY/MINDEN AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 15:30:00 to 26-DEC-06 15:30:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 64.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A 64 knot (74 mph) wind gust was reported by a trained weather spotter at Red Rock in the Peavine Mountain foothills.

High Wind in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 15:30:00 to 26-DEC-06 15:30:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 117.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A 117 knot (135 mph) wind gust was recorded at the top of Slide Mountain at an elevation of 9700 feet.

High Wind in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 15:30:00 to 26-DEC-06 15:30:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A 51 knot (59 mph) wind gust was recorded by the NDOT wind sensor at an elevation of 5380 feet 3 miles ESE of Daggett Pass.

High Wind in GREATER RENO/CARSON CITY/MINDEN AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 15:49:00 to 26-DEC-06 15:49:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 80.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

An 80 knot (92 mph) wind gust was reported by a trained weather spotter in Mogul 7 miles west of Reno.

High Wind in GREATER RENO/CARSON CITY/MINDEN AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 16:30:00 to 26-DEC-06 16:30:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Wind gusts estimated at 61 knots (70 mph) caused damage in the Caughlin Ranch area of southwest Reno.  Broken windows were reported in the area.  Power outages were also caused by downed power lines.

High Wind in GREATER RENO/CARSON CITY/MINDEN AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 06:00:00 to 26-DEC-06 06:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 62.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A 62 knot (71 mph) wind gust was recorded by a wind sensor 1 mile south of Washoe City.

High Wind in GREATER RENO/CARSON CITY/MINDEN AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 06:45:00 to 26-DEC-06 06:45:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A 56 knot (65 mph) wind gust was recorded by a wind sensor at an elevation of 5200 feet 4 miles east of Gardnerville.

High Wind in WESTERN NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 08:15:00 to 26-DEC-06 08:15:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A 53 knot (61 mph) wind gust was recorded by a wind sensor at the Pyramid Lake Fisheries office in Sutcliffe.

High Wind in GREATER RENO/CARSON CITY/MINDEN AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 17:45:00 to 26-DEC-06 17:45:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

The NDOT sensor north of Interstate 80 between the Sparks Marina and Sparks Blvd. recorded wind gusts of at least 50 knots (58 mph) between 4:30 pm and 6:00 pm.  The peak wind gust of 56 knots (65 mph) occurred at 5:45 pm.

High Wind in WESTERN NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 17:00:00 to 26-DEC-06 17:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 64.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A 64 knot (74 mph) wind gust was recorded by the wind sensor at Sutcliffe.

High Wind in GREATER RENO/CARSON CITY/MINDEN AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 17:40:00 to 26-DEC-06 17:40:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

A 51 knot (59 mph) wind gust was recorded by the ASOS at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

High Wind in MINERAL/SOUTHERN LYON, NEVADA
From 27-DEC-06 04:30:00 to 27-DEC-06 04:30:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 73.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A 73 knot (84 mph) wind gust was recorded by the NDOT wind sensor at Walker Lake.

Heavy Snow in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 22:00:00 to 27-DEC-06 14:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A total of 8 inches of snowfall was reported by a trained weather spotter 2 miles ESE of Incline Village.

High Wind in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 11:00:00 to 26-DEC-06 11:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A wind gust estimated at 61 knots (70 mph) knocked over a Jeffrey pine and sent it through the roof of a house on Tahoe Mountain near South Lake Tahoe.  The tree also damaged three automobiles parked in the driveway.

High Wind in MINERAL/SOUTHERN LYON, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 22:15:00 to 26-DEC-06 22:15:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A 70 knot (80 mph) wind gust was recorded by the NDOT sensor at Walker Lake.

High Wind in GREATER RENO/CARSON CITY/MINDEN AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 13:50:00 to 26-DEC-06 13:50:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 70.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A 70 knot (80 mph) wind gust was reported by a trained weather spotter 5 miles WSW of Gardnerville.

High Wind in GREATER RENO/CARSON CITY/MINDEN AREA, NEVADA
From 26-DEC-06 14:15:00 to 26-DEC-06 14:15:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 79.00 MG
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A 79 knot (91 mph) wind gust was recorded by the Washoe Valley NDOT sensor  1 mile south of Washoe City.  U.S. Highway 395 was closed by the Nevada Highway Patrol due to the many high profile vehicle rollovers.