Entire State of Nevada Under Alert as Life-Threatening Winter Storm Arrives

Weather alerts have been issued throughout the entirety of Nevada as the state prepares for a life-threatening winter storm arriving this weekend.

The massive storm that could bring more than 100 inches of snow in some parts of California began hitting the West Coast on Thursday. National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists issued a slew of weather-related warnings across multiple states, including Nevada, on Friday as the storm began to rage.

The warnings encompassing the entire state of Nevada include a high wind warning, a blizzard warning, a winter storm warning and a winter weather advisory.

For the wind, gusts up to 55 miles per hour were expected in Las Vegas and up to 75 miles per hour in the city of Elko region. Wind will be strongest in the higher elevations. Parts of California have already experienced wind gusts of up to 145 miles per hour as the storm arrives.

Incoming snow was expected to exceed a foot in some parts of Nevada.

"For the Winter Storm Warning, heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of up to 13 inches," an NWS blizzard warning said. "Winds gusting as high as 55 mph. For the Blizzard Warning, blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 14 inches. Winds gusting as high as 70 mph."

The NWS office in Las Vegas posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the storm forecast prompted meteorologists to issue a "rare blizzard warning" for Lincoln County for Saturday.

"While snowfall amounts are not expected to be extreme, high winds will combine with the snowfall to make visibility near zero. Avoid travel!" the office wrote.

Newsweek reached out to the NWS office in Las Vegas by phone for comment.

Warnings associated with the storm also extended into Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming.

According to a map from the NWS Weather Prediction Center, extreme impacts from the storm are expected throughout California and in a small portion of Nevada. The report anticipates that "extensive and widespread closures and disruptions to infrastructure may occur" and that "life-saving actions may be needed."

The map shows that much of northern Nevada can expect minor impacts from the storm, with some areas experiencing moderate and major effects.

As for the impact on California, AccuWeather has called the incoming blizzard the "biggest storm of winter."

"The snow will fall at the rate of 4 inches per hour at times, while 60- to 75-mph winds will create a dangerous blizzard with mountainous snowdrifts," Bernie Rayno, AccuWeather's chief on-air meteorologist, said in a report.