Nevada snowpack slightly below normal for first time in five years

Wednesday, April 19, 2000 | 12:17 p.m.

"March precipitation for Nevada and the eastern Sierra was dismal with no area receiving average monthly amounts," forecasters said. "The snowmelt season began early this year, in mid-March. Due to below average snowpacks this year, the snowmelt season will likely end somewhat early."

The spring runoff normally feeds streams and rivers into June in the higher basins, but this year's outlook is for the melt to peak next month, according the National Weather Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The current forecast is that inflow to Lake Tahoe will be at its highest about May 8. The Carson River will peak May 10, the West Walker May 25 and the East Walker June 1.

As of April 1 - the traditional end of the winter storm period - snow water storage in runoff areas ranged from a skimpy 69 percent of average in the Carson River Basin to 94 percent along the Truckee River.

Upper Humboldt storage was 90 percent, the Lower Humboldt was at 84 percent, and the Walker River and Lake Tahoe basins were at 83 percent.

Forecasters said the snowpack was sufficient to assure abundant water this summer and after the five wet years, reservoir storage remained well above average, except for the Walker River with 75 percent of average.

Storage along the Truckee River stood at 150 percent of average and Lake Tahoe held 145 percent of its average.

Carson River storage was just about normal at 101 percent of average and the Lower Humboldt was at 128 percent of average.

Forecasters said spring storms could result in a sixth wet year, but climatology doesn't favor that as northern and western Nevada normally receive far less precipitation in the spring than in the winter.