Despite the brief “ArcStorm” of early February, streams and lakes throughout Nevada and California are shrinking under returned dry weather. Drought conditions have persisted now since 2000 with two above average precipitation years occurring only in 2005 and 2010. I’m writing this in early March 2015 and the prospect of a large series of storms Continue Reading »
Not as much precipitation so far here in Nevada. The forecast call for an 80% chance of rain here in the Truckee Meadows with more rain and snow in the mountains. Will it make a big enough difference to affect the seriousness of the drought? Check back on Monday.
Researchers Zhu and Newell at MIT coined the term “atmospheric river” in a 1998 paper which described the phenomenon where moisture laden air from the warm Pacific streams onto the west coast producing heavy rain in California and western Nevada. Current forecasts call for such a storm starting Friday of this week. Where the storm strikes the coast, however, Continue Reading »
Lake Tahoe is a bellwether for the Truckee River. When it drops below its rim, tough times are on the way. As of this post, Tahoe’s dropped 7″ below its rim. A Facebook post from David Bobzien of a photo taken by Steve Tietze underscores the lack of rain and snow. As Tahoe continues to drop it Continue Reading »
If you’ve been up in the mountains around Reno skiing or driving “over the hill”, you’ve noticed that there isn’t much snow. Despite the “big” storm in December that brought rain to Reno and some flooding to southern California, there is a poor snowpack that hasn’t seen any real snow or rain added in January – one Continue Reading »