The tap turned off in January which raises concern about how this water year will end up. We started with record rain in October, followed by a dry November, then record snowfall in the Sierra in December before blue skies took over in January. Many SNOTEL sites across Nevada, Utah and Colorado had their lowest January precipitation totals on record.

The dry month has caused snow and precipitation percentages to drop as median amounts continue to increase each day.

Snowpack in the Upper Humboldt River Basin is below normal at 78% of median, compared to 58% at
this time last year. Precipitation in January was well below normal at 37%, which brings the seasonal
accumulation (October-January) to 109% of median. Soil moisture is at 54% saturation compared to
24% saturation last year.

Snowpack in the Lower Humboldt River Basin is below normal at 88% of median, compared to 89% at
this time last year. Precipitation in January was well below normal at 18%, which brings the seasonal
accumulation (October-January) to 124% of median. Soil moisture is at 49% saturation compared to
30% saturation last year. Reservoir storage is 5% of capacity, compared to 30% last year.

Click here to read the full February 2022 Nevada Water Supply Outlook Report.