Snowpack in Nevada is off to a grim start as high temperatures have prevented snow packs from forming, despite high precipitation. Snowpack in Nevada and the Eastern Sierra – a major source of water for the Truckee River in northern Nevada – are below normal at 74% of median for the time of year. While precipitation in December was well above normal, warmer than normal temperatures mean that has not translated to robust snowpacks throughout much of the state. … The decrease in snowpack across Nevada was largely a result of above normal temperatures melting snowpack away, according to Nevada State Climatologist Baker Perry.

Other snowpack news around the West:

• KOAA (Colorado Springs, Colo.): Colorado’s snowpack declines further into record low territory
• Denver Gazette (Colo.): Colorado ski area could get 20″ of snow this week as widespread winter storm hits
• Arizona State University: Blog: ASU, SRP project takes flight to improve water supply forecasting