I got WeatherDisplay with a specific purpose in mind; to take the place of an inoperative hardware console and it’s even more useful. I can walk by and look at WD on the big screen. No scrolling down or changing pages to see what’s happening in near real time. North Central Nevada is impacted by an unusual weather phenomenon referred to as the Tonopah Low. When this system predominates the local weather, you never know exactly what punch you are going to receive. Rapidly changing conditions can bring about intense unpredictable severe spring and summertime weather. This may include heavy precipitation, rapid severe flash floods, dangerous lightning, large hail, high winds, dust / sand storms, and possibly even a rare tornado. Fortunately, the Tonopah Low infrequently dominates the weather.
From Wasatch Weather Weenies (with a url reference for the US Navy China Lake Forecast Handbook)
Monday, February 13, 2012
"The Tonopah Low
A somewhat unusual occurrence that becomes more common in Spring is the development of the so-called Tonopah or Nevada Low ( http://www.navair.navy.mil/nawcwd/weather/chinalake/fcstrhndbk/Sect2.htm ). These aptly named systems tend to form in the lee of the Sierra Nevada mountains, in the vicinity of Tonopah, NV. These systems can produce heavy precipitation on the east-facing slopes of the Sierra and in other regions that experience the typical rain shadow associated with approaching Pacific storms.
The document linked above states that the development of these systems is typically preceded by the flow of cold air from Canada towards a warmer airmass over the Great Basin, creating unstable conditions. Indeed, The 18z GFS indicates a pronounced flow of cold air at 850mb from British Columbia into Nevada in the wake of an upper-level trough."