Rain and More Snow - Still Not Enough

That nice snow and rain last weekend was appreciated, but if it doesn't get rainier and snowier real soon, we're headed for a third year in a row of below average precipitation. Another word for the situation is drought, which has already been officially declared over the hill in California. As of January 26, major drainages that provide water to the Reno area are below both snowpack and total precipitation averages. The Truckee River total is at 76 percent, the Lake Tahoe Basin is at 79 percent, and the Carson River is at 88 percent.

Reservoir storage is way down as well. Donner, Boca, Stampede, and Prosser are all below half capacity and sporting telltale bathtub rings along their shorelines. Lake Tahoe is nearing its natural rim, which is when the Truckee River ceases to spill out and downstream reservoirs must be tapped to maintain the flow through Reno. Rain and snow during the remainder of the season are going to have to be way above normal to make a significant dent in the cumulative shortage racked up during the last two below average years. It's happened before, but there are no guarantees. And it's not happening yet - it will be sunny and mild for at least the next few days.

Source: Western Regional Climate Center

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