Storm deposits an inch of rain

Mary Manning and Launce Rake

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003 | 9:29 a.m.

Southern Nevada got almost an inch of rain on Tuesday as a winter storm packing snow in the mountains and showers in the Las Vegas Valley stayed overhead.

The steady drumbeat of rain continued falling until the early morning hours.

"It was raining pretty steady there all day yesterday, from late morning into the evening and night," National Weather Service meteorologist Charlie Schlott said.

Almost 2 feet of snow had fallen on Mount Charleston, and above 5,000 feet in the Spring and Sheep mountains about a foot of the white stuff stuck.

The storm system moved east into Arizona overnight, but not before dropping 0.98 of an inch of rain at McCarran International Airport.

"Some places had a little bit more, some places had a little bit less," Schlott said.

The old record for the day, 0.37 of an inch, was set on Feb. 25, 1987, National Weather Service meteorologist Heather Orow said today.

Until Tuesday the Las Vegas Valley was a tenth of an inch behind the normal rainfall of 1.22 inches for this time of year, Orow said.

Orow and Schlott said Tuesday's rain brought the valley's rainfall above normal for the year. "It was something we haven't had in a while," Schlott said.

Tuesday's slow, steady rain did not cause major flooding, which typically occurs during summer downpours.

Water officials across the Southwest welcomed the rain but warned that it will take much more to end the drought.

"Every drop of rain helps," Pat Mulroy, Southern Nevada Water Authority general manager, said.

She said the real benefit will not come from the rain falling in the Las Vegas Valley, but on the snow that could come to the Rocky Mountains. The Rockies' annual snowmelt in the spring brings most of the water that flows into the Colorado River, Southern Nevada's primary water source.

Water officials have warned that mandatory conservation measures will be needed by the beginning of next year, and local governments are working to draft the new rules to be adopted by early summer.

Even with February's rain and snow, this year's mountain snowpack is still below normal. Even an above-average year will not be enough to fill Lake Mead, officials warn.

But forecasters provided a ray of hope.

"At least through early spring, it looks like we're going to be slightly above normal," National Weather Service meteorologist Stan Czyzyk said. "It's definitely a step in the right direction, but we need a lot more of it."

Weather Service forecaster Steve Down said there is enough moisture in the air to keep gray clouds hanging around through today.

Another weaker storm system will drop in from the north on Thursday, bringing a slight chance of scattered showers.

Forecasts for later this week call for temperatures ranging from mid-50s to low 60s for daytime and in the 40s at night.

"It won't end the drought, but it helps," Down said.