A powerful winter storm moved through the Sierra Nevada and western Nevada from January 4th through the 6th.  Up to 10 feet of snow fell in the higher elevations of the Sierra with 1 to 2 feet in western Nevada.

Heavy Rain in WASHOE, NEVADA
From 04-JAN-08 05:30:00 to 04-JAN-08 16:48:00 (PST-8)
Location: (RNO)CANNON ARPT REN
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Nearly steady rainfall from 5:30 AM through 4:48 PM contributed to the third largest daily precipitation total in the last 100 years in Reno.  A total of 1.91 inches of precipitation was recorded at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport for January 4th.

Heavy Snow in WESTERN NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE, NEVADA
From 04-JAN-08 18:00:00 to 05-JAN-08 10:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Fernley received 6 inches of new snow.

Flood in LYON, NEVADA
From 05-JAN-08 09:00:00 to 06-JAN-08 14:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: FERNLEY
Flood cause: Dam / Levee Break
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A 40-foot-long break in the Truckee Canal released floodwater into portions of Fernley, Nevada on the morning of January 5th.  Local newspapers reported that approximately 1500 people had to be evacuated from their homes.  Water 2 to 4 feet deep affected as many as 500 homes.  The floodwaters started to recede the afternoon of January 5th but remained over the area until the afternoon of January 6th.

Flash Flood in LYON, NEVADA
From 05-JAN-08 04:19:00 to 05-JAN-08 09:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: FERNLEY
Flood cause: Dam / Levee Break
Property damage: 6.60M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A 40-foot-long break in the Truckee Canal released floodwater into portions of Fernley, Nevada on the morning of January 5th.  Local newspapers reported that approximately 1500 people had to be evacuated from their homes.  Water 2 to 4 feet deep affected as many as 500 homes.  The Reno Gazette-Journal newspaper reported that more than $1.75 million in federal disaster housing assistance had been provided.  In addition to this, Fernley city officials estimated that the cost to repair roads would be over $720,000.

Heavy Snow in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, NEVADA
From 04-JAN-08 08:00:00 to 06-JAN-08 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Storm-total snowfall amounts:
Heavenly Ski Resort, 96 inches;
Mt. Rose ski area, 72 inches;
Diamond Peak ski area, 48 inches;
Daggett Pass, 48 inches (at 7334 feet);
1 mile NE of Incline Village, 28 inches;
Glenbrook, 27 inches (at 6350 feet).

Heavy Snow in GREATER RENO/CARSON CITY/MINDEN AREA, NEVADA
From 04-JAN-08 09:00:00 to 06-JAN-08 04:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Storm-total snowfall amounts:
Virginia City, 23 inches (at 6340 feet);
northwest Reno, 20 inches (at 5350 feet);
Stead, 18 inches (at 5120 feet);
Carson City, 15 inches;
Golden Valley (5 miles north of Reno), 15 inches;
Cold Springs Valley (north of Reno), 14 inches of snowfall (with total water equivalent of 3.44 inches);
3 miles north of Spanish Springs (northeast of Reno), 12 inches;
Minden, 12 inches (at 4709 feet);
1 mile north of Carson City, 11 inches;
west Reno, 9 inches;
Spanish Springs (northeast of Reno), 9 inches (at 4488 feet).