NWS Reno: Forecasting for the Sierra and Western Nevada Since 1905

  Drought Update Report  NWS Reno  Issued: 03/19/2021  Schedule: Monthly during periods of extreme drought designation  _____________________________________________________________________  Drought conditions persist  Synopsis: Precipitation and snow accumulation in February and the first half of March were well below average for the Sierra, and pretty much closed the door on the odds of recovering snowpack and water supply conditions to near average with only a few weeks remaining in the typical snow accumulation season. Conditions were somewhat better in far northeastern CA and northwestern NV, but still well short of significant drought recovery. Mid-February storms were most beneficial to northern Nevada, but precipitation since February 1st is well below average for SNOTEL stations on the east side of the central Sierra (Figure 1). The past 30 day mountain precipitation was even worse throughout the state, but especially for the Sierra where sites ranged from ~25 to 40% of averag