Drier, warmer across Nevada in 2000

Tom Gardner

Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2001 | 3:43 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - Nevada's weather ranged from dry to very dry in 2000 while holding to a warmer-than-usual trend.

"Reno had 19 consecutive months of warmer than usual temperatures until November finally ended up cooler. December came right back with warm temperatures again," state Climatologist John James said Tuesday.

No readings set any major records despite a 141-degree span statewide from the year's low of minus 21 last month in Charleston to the high in July of 120 degrees at Laughlin.

Charleston is 60 miles north of Elko near the Idaho line and west of San Jacinto, which was paralyzed by the state's all-time low of 50 below. Laughlin is history's hot spot in Nevada at 125.

The year saw only one monthly record established - Callville Bay's 116 that edged Cottonwood Cove's previous October mark of 115.

Most of Nevada had below normal precipitation last year except for a few isolated spots such as Battle Mountain, which received 115 percent of its norm, James said.

Even the state's wettest area, Mount Rose, south of Reno, was below average at 85 percent of average despite 46.6 liquid inches.

Skimpy precipitation caused problems for agricultural areas along the Walker River.

"Yerington and Hawthorne saw only one-third of their normal rain and snowmelt," James said.

Las Vegas received 61 percent of its normal. Reno had three-fourths, Ely 81 percent and Elko 73 percent of normal.

National Weather Service meteorologist John Adair said in Las Vegas that official readings made at airports can be misleading.

"It's possible that there's no precipitation being recorded at McCarran (International Airport) while it's flooding in other parts of the valley," he said.

For example, the airport had 3.47 inches of rain but the Red Rock Canyon visitor center picked up 5.31 inches.

And while the Angel Park Detention Basin off Rampart Boulevard saw only 0.87 of an inch of rain last year, another reporting station just a mile away and also on Rampart Boulevard picked up 3.78 inches.