Local Significant Weather - Carson City, NV

January 21 - 23, 2012 - The 72 hour total for precipitation was 2.56 inches.  This brought the Sierra snow pack from 5-10% of average to near 35-40% of average.  Still well below the seasonal average.

January 20-21, 2012 - Heavy rain fell overnight with 1.24 inches for a storm total. 

January 15, 2012 - 1/2 inch of snow fell in the local area ending a 56 day dry spell.  This was a record stretch of day with no precipitation.

January 1, 2012 - December precipitation was 0.00 inches.  This was one of the driest Decembers on record.

November 1, 2011 - Precipitation for the month of October was .61 inches.  This was normal for the month which is .60 inches.

October 1, 2011 - The water year for 2010-2011 ended up on a very wet note with 19.64 inches from October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011.

June 30, 2011 - Total rain for the month of June was 1.53 inches which is 400% of average with is .37.  Most of the rain the fell was during the first week of June with 1.35 inches falling by June 5th after all was said and done.  Another very deep low pressure system affected the area on June 28th with another .17 of an inch.

March 2, 2011 - Heavy rain fell during a two hour period dropping .44 inches of rain.

February 28, 2011 - A significant snow event that began February 17 through the 20th dropped 18-20 inches of snow in the area.  Another storm on the 25th dropped another 7-8 inches of snow.  Total water equivalent for the month was 2.31 inches.  A current snow depth of 14 inches is currently on the ground.

January 31, 2011 - The month was one of the driest on record with only .33 inches of precipitation for the month.

December 31, 2010 - Several strong Pacific storms move through the region during the month bringing much above normal precipitation to the area.  Total precipitation received was 5.21 inches.  This adds to what is already a very good start to the water year with a total of 10.47 inches since October 1, 2010.  This total now exceeds our average yearly precipitation for the current water year.  The Sierra snow pack now stands at 190% to near 225% in in the Truckee, Tahoe, Carson and Walker river basins.

November 30, 2010 - A series of cold storm systems dropped several inches of snow with total precipitation of 1.19 inches in the valleys with several feet in the Sierra.  Total precipitation for the month was near average for the month.

October 23 -25, 2010 - A strong Pacific jet with the remains of super typhoon Megi brought strong winds and heavy rain to the area.  Winds gusted to near 70 mph while heavy rain occurred Sunday October 24th.  Total rainfall from this storm was 2.25 inches.  Total rainfall is 4.07 for the month as of October 25, 2010.  The official rain fall record for the month was 3.47 set back in 1945.

October 2 -5, 2010 - A strong closed low developed and persisted over the area bringing rain and thunderstorms to the area.  Nocturnal thunderstorms occurred October 3rd and October 4th with heavy rain showers and frequent lightning.  Total precipitation from this event was 1.75 inches.

September 30, 2010 - Total precipitation for water year 2009-2010 beginning October 1, 2009 was 12.04 inches. 

December 12, 2009 - Heavy snow fell across much of the area. Total snowfall accumulations were around 6 inches the Carson City area with much higher amounts in the foothills.

December 8-10, 2009 - Very cold temperatures due to significant snow pack and modified arctic air over the region.  The morning of December 9 was the coldest.  The low was -11F.  Highs during the period were in the low to mid 20s.

December 6-7, 2009 - 12-18 inches of snow fell in the Carson City area.  Locations on the western side of town experienced the higher accumulations of around 16-18 inches in many spots.

October 13 -14, 2009 - Heavy rain occurred as the remains of super typhoon Melor moved into the west coast.  Total precipitation from this event was 1.77 inches.

March-April, 2008 - Driest two month period in the last 100 years.  A total of 0.33 inches of precipitation fell in Carson City.  Reno reported 0.07 inches tied for the driest two month period.  Average precipitation for the Reno area is 1.21 inches during the two month period.  March is typically one of our wettest months for the winter season in the Sierra and extreme Western Nevada. 

February 23-24, 2008 - 10 inches of snow fell with .92 inches of water equivalent.  Snow turned to rain on Sunday, February 24 with little additional accumulation.

February 1-4, 2008 - Snow and blowing snow occurred over the area with 1-2 inches falling each day.  White out conditions occurred in many valleys of western Nevada especially Washoe Valley and the Mono Lakes area.  Heavy snow fell on the night of February 3 with 3-4 inches.  Total water equivalent precipitation was .76 inches through the event. 

January 4, 2008 - Heavy rain fell with 1.24 inches.  Snow in the amount of 12 inches fell over the period of 01/04/08-01/06/08 for another 1.75 inches of snow/water equivalent.  Total liquid precipitation for the event was 2.99 inches.

February 26, 2007 - Heavy Snow.  8-10 inches of snow fell within about a five hour period from about 5p.m. to 10 p.m. with very gusty winds accompanying the snow.  Several power outages occurred as a result of heavy snow on power lines.

December 26, 2006 - High wind event.  Winds gusted to near 130mph over the Sierra crest with wind gusts of 90 to over 100mph occurred in the Reno/Carson City area.  Recorded a wind gust to 46mph in Carson City with much higher gusts in wind prone areas.

December 16, 2006 - Snow fell in the evening with 3 inches accumulating.  Cold weather with low temperatures near 0 to 5 above in the next three days to follow.

March 9,10, 2006 - Heavy snow fell overnight with 10 inches of snow mostly from lake effect snow from Lake Tahoe.

February 27,28, 2006  - Heavy rain fell with 1.76 inches over a 36 hour period.

February 15, 2006 - .18 inches of water equivalent from 2 inches of snow.

January 31, 2006 - Total January precipitation was 2.47 inches.

January 14, 2006 - 3 inches of snow fell mostly during the afternoon hours with .27 inches of water equivalent.

January 2, 2006 - Heavy rain.  30 hour storm total of 1.68 inches including 3 inches of heavy wet snow.

December 31, 2005 - Heavy rain.  36 hour storm total for the storm of December 30-31 is 4.30 inches bringing the monthly total to 10.67 inches which is more than the average annual rainfall for an entire year.

December 28, 2005 - Heavy rain fell at times with a 24 hour storm total of .56 inches.

December 26, 2005 - Heavy rain fell in the early morning hours along with 3/4 of an inch of heavy wet snow.  Storm total of .68 of an inch water equivalent.

December 21,22, 2005 - Heavy rain fell 36 hour storm total of 1.26.  Heavy rain fell with .90 of an inch of rain fell between 5pm - 8pm December 21.  .25 fell overnight by 6am December 22.  An additional .11 inches fell during the afternoon of December 22.

December 18, 2005 - Heavy snow 8 inches fell overnight with .76  inches water equivalent.  Snow has changed to rain and still raining moderately.  Storm total is 1.30 inches of water equivalent.

December 8, 2005 - 1 inch of snow fell with .13 inches water equivalent.       

December 2, 2005 - Storm total precipitation fell all in the form of rain at 2.44 inches. 

November 30, 2005 - 1 inch of wet snow fell mixed with sleet before turning to rain.  .33 inches storm total.

November 25, 2005 - Moderate rain occurred with a storm total of .42 inches falling as rain.