Shallow Snowpack in Lake Tahoe, CA and Northern Nevada Cause Concern for Another Potential Drought Year

The snowpack in Northern Nevada and the Eastern Sierra (home to Lake Tahoe) is already below normal this season which prompts concerns that the region could experience another drought year this year. 

If that happens it would make for two drought years in a row for the region. 

As of Monday morning, the snowpack was 71 to 78 percent of median in the Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and Carson basins, the Reno Gazette-Journal reports. In the Tahoe basin, there is an average of 7.2 inches of water content at measuring sites, down from the usual median amount of 10 inches.

According to precipitation data shared by the Reno Gazette, Mt. Rose has only 9.2 inches of water content in 36 inches of snow when the median is usually 14.5 inches of water. Data collected so far this year show that the area’s precipitation totals are already 7.2 inches below average for the water year, which started October 1.

Although winter is still young, the snowpack will be a huge determining factor for whether or not the region will experience drought this year. So we as skiers, snowboarders, and nature enthusiasts not only want to see it dump more than ever this winter— but need it to.

Some pretty decent snow falling today up in the Sierra Nevada, here near Donner Summit along I-80. Through yesterday, the Sierra snowpack was 50% of normal. Storm door is open in NorCal right now. Need lots more to reduce the risk of drought conditions next summer. pic.twitter.com/9SwobtuSuL

— Paul Rogers (@PaulRogersSJMN) January 4, 2021