The February 28, 2002 Reno dust storm: A case study

On February 28, 2002, a severe dust storm triggered by a northerly cold and dry front brought a large amount of particulate matter into the Reno, Nevada area. This storm was observed by two wind profilers and associated NCAR Integrated Sounding System instruments deployed for the Reno Basin 2002 Study, and by a network of pollution monitoring stations.The synoptic and mesoscale evolution of this front are described from its origin over Alaska to the Sierra Nevada mountains, and the local observations of PM10, winds and thermodynamic structure are discussed.