Reno's dry spell hangs on

The last significant snowfall in the Reno region was last October. The mountains were white and it looked like we were going to have another good snow pack, bringing skiers joy, another winter season of robust economic activity, and storing plenty of water for next summer. Such has not been the case. This is mid-January, 2012 - there hasn't been any measurable precipitation in Reno for over a month and a half and the mountains still look like it's fall.

So, just how dry is it? Real dry, and here are numbers from the National Weather Service to illustrate where the snow pack is at so far in the 2012 water year. The numbers are percent of average for this time of year, followed by where we were at in 2011. It's a rather startling contrast.

• Truckee River drainage - 15% (203% in 2011).
• Lake Tahoe Basin - 9% (227% in 2011)
• Carson River drainage - 8% (224% in 2011)
• Walker River drainage - 11% (210% in 2011)

According to recent weather reports, relief may be on the way. We actually got an overnight dusting of snow in Reno Sunday night/Monday morning and a bit more up around Lake Tahoe. Winter storms may finally start to arrive in our area by mid-week, bringing more rain and snow to mountains and valleys. The best chance for some water from the sky is going to start Wednesday night and continue into the weekend. If you plan on heading to the mountains, be prepared for winter conditions and check road conditions before leaving town. Since our weather is always fickle at best, we'll have to wait and see just what materializes.

Meanwhile, for the outdoorsy types who don't miss the skiing (and even if you do), relatively mild temperatures (some record highs have been set) present a unique opportunity to enjoy activities normally reserved for the warmer months. If you want to go hiking or biking, many trails are snow-free and open. I've even heard that some hardy folks are out in kayaks and other small craft on Lake Tahoe. Definitely weird, but we get what we get and may as well enjoy it while it lasts.

Source: National Weather Service.

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