Minden hits moisture total for entire year

Of all the places in Nevada and California where weather officials and climatologists track moisture, only one has received its full measure of precipitation for the 2009-10 water year, and that's Minden.

The Douglas County seat hit 100 percent of its average 8.38 inches despite a disappointing March that saw .72 inches of moisture during a month that usually leaves just over an inch in the middle of Carson Valley.

The entire Carson River basin is at 99 percent of average moisture according to figures compiled by the National Weather Service and released today, despite a dry March.

The water year begins on Oct. 1. Precipitation in the Sierra determines the amount of runoff available for irrigation during the summer.

During March, the Sierra fared better than the valleys, with Ebbetts Pass receiving 87 percent of the moisture that is supposed to fall during the month, bringing it to 96 percent of average for this time of year. Natural Resources Conservation Service snow telemetry from Poison Flat shows it is at 99 percent of average for this time of year. Monitor Pass received 101 percent of the moisture it is supposed to have for this time of year.

If not another flake of snow or drop of water falls in the Carson River basin before Sept. 30, it is at 73 percent of average for the entire year.

Ebbetts Pass received 6.4 inches of precipitation in March, the largest amount in the basin, but only 87 percent of its average for the month.

According to the Weather Service, the Walker River basin is at 101 percent of average so far for the year, despite receiving less than half March's average precipitation.

Lake Tahoe is at 85 percent of average precipitation for the year so far.

A new snow storm is expected to arrive Sunday with a chance of rain and snow through Easter. According to the National Weather Service, up to 3 inches of snow could fall starting 5 p.m. Sunday and running through the early morning on Monday.

Winds with gusts of higher than 30 mph are expected to start at about 2 p.m.