Whether their interests lie on the ski slopes, in agricultural fields, or both, Nevadans “in the know” closely watch the snow forecast over the winter. Tracking Nevada snowpack in the various mountain ranges is not only indicative of the quality of winter recreation. It provides a forecast for the next irrigation season among Nevada Farmers. It can help provide insights on how full the various reservoir lakes will be come spring.

 Nevada is the driest state in the Nation, with annual precipitation averaging only 10.3 inches per year. As such, snow build up in the Sierras, Carson Range, Ruby Mountains and the countless other state mountain ranges is one of the primary driving forces for surface water recharge. Nevada’s lakes, rivers, and streams are heavily fed by spring run off as snowpack begins to melt in April and May. 

However, not all snow-enthusiasts are aware of the various publicly available resources to better understanding how snowpack is measuring up throughout the season.  Luckily, public forecasting and monitoring tools far exceed the weekly weather forecast and the meteorologist on the local five-o-clock news.

USDA Nevada Snowpack and Stream Forecast Tools

The United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) publishes a suite of “Nevada Snow Survey Products” online. These include various reports and maps of daily conditions. An interactive mapping tool can lead to the same information. The primarily information displayed in these various tools compares the current amount of snowpack to the median snowpack experienced historically on the same day.  For example, value in the Lake Tahoe regions of 40% indicates the current snowpack in that region is 40% of the median (middle) amount of snowpack historically experienced. In other words, the snowpack is low compared to historical snowpack.

NOAA Drought Tools

The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”) is another federal agency that provides public information related to Nevada snowpack.  NOAA’s reporting is primarily related to drought conditions. However, as snowpack plays a key role in drought conditions throughout the year, the agency publishes information on its website related to “Snow Drought” conditions. Information provided by NOAA is also categorized by region. Nevada’s drought information is available along with conditions in California. Information on NOAA reporting is arguable more user friendly. The agency provides percentages as well as categorization of current conditions ranging from “abnormally dry” to “exceptional drought.”

Conclusion

These are just some of the tools available to stay informed about current snowpack conditions in Nevada’s mountain.  As the season continues, those who are interested can track snowpack accumulation. Other information related to water availability is available through

• updates from the United States Bureau of Reclamation,
• local irrigation companies and dam/reservoir managers,
• and spring/summer related drought tools.

Together, all of these tools can help irrigators plan for their upcoming water year. They help anticipate the water that will be available for crop production.