Although western Nevada saw another month of dry conditions in April with observed precipitation accumulation only in the range of 52 to 63 percent of average, Winnemucca in particular is currently slightly above average in terms of precipitation this water year.
Since Oct. 1, Winnemucca has received 6.3 inches of liquid precipitation, according to the National Weather Service. The average is 6.03 and last year at this time Winnemucca had only received 3.99 inches of liquid precipitation.
Statewide, the seasonal accumulation was not enough to improve snowpack conditions in any areas.
The Rye Patch Reservoir is still drastically below average at 9.5 thousand-acre-feet (KAF) at the end of April. Last year at this time, the reservoir was at 23.5 KAF. The average for this time of year is 103.3 KAF, just over half of the reservoirs capacity of 194.3 KAF.
Snowpack for the Lower Humboldt River Basin was at 50 percent of median. Snowpacks for western Nevada in general range from about 20 percent to 34 percent of normal.
Hydrologist Beau Uriona with the Natural Resources Conservation Service said low seasonal runoff and very little improvements in reservoir storage can be expected in the near future.[[In-content Ad]]
