Snowpack at Mt. Rose at 211 percent of the median, Lake Tahoe Basin 246 percent

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - As the California water officials were conducting their monthly snow survey on Monday, Nevada officials were doing the same. Much of the western Sierra snowpack sends snowmelt into California, but the Lake Tahoe Basin except Echo Lakes, and the eastern slopes send the snowmelt into Nevada so the height and snow water equivalent (SWE) are important to both states.

At the Mt. Rose manual snow survey location, Jeff Anderson, hydrologist for Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Nevada, found 188" of snow with an SWE of 73.6", or 211 percent of the median. That is two winters in one!

This measurement of the SWE is the third highest at Mt. Rose with records going back to 1908. The normal peak snow water is 36.5" which typically occurs on April 10. This year currently ranks 4th highest peak snowpack since the Snotel was installed in 1981. The years that peaked higher: 2017 (April 23), 1995 (May 17), 1983 (May 12), 1982 (April 24).

Anderson said in some years, peaks don't come until mid-May. They won't do another manual measurement this year but those figures will be captured on Snotel.

The Tahoe Basin snowpack is at 246 percent of the median, the second-highest peak since 1981, so far. Only 1983 peaked higher. Marlette Lake has an all-time April 1 record snowpack based on 105 years of records.

There are 34 measuring sites across the Eastern Sierra and Nevada with an all-time April 1 record snowpack.

March 2023 saw near record-breaking snow accumulation for the month. In the Eastern Sierra, Snotels were added on average 16.2 inches of snow water during the month, only 0.2 inches shy of the record set in 1995. The Spring Mountain area near Las Vegas is at 788 percent of the median. Anderson said this is due to the big March as that area usually sees its peak in that month, leaving much of the snow melting by April 1.

Water from the Truckee River out of Lake Tahoe flows for 120 miles from the outlet at Tahoe City into Nevada, through the city of Reno, and goes to Pyramid Lake. It is diverted at Derby Dam for the Carson River Basin.

The Upper Colorado Basin is seeing great snowpack as well, said Anderson. They have the third highest amount since 1986. Though it won't solve 20 years of drought, it will help. The Colorado River flows for approximately 1,450 miles and provides water to seven states in the Western U.S. that are part of the Colorado River Basin. Divided into two regions; the Upper Basin includes Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; and the Lower Basin includes Arizona, California, and Nevada.

Basin by Basin Summary from NRCS Nevada:

Truckee Basin
April 1 Snowpack 221% of median
Snowpack is currently second highest peak since 1981 based on SNOTEL data. Only 1983 peaked higher.
Notable record: Mount Rose third highest based on 112 years of measurements.

Tahoe Basin
April 1 Snowpack 246% of median
Snowpack is currently second highest peak since 1981 based on SNOTEL data. Only 1983 peaked higher.
Notable record: Marlette Lake all-time April 1 record snowpack based on 105 years of record.

Carson Basin
April 1 Snowpack 290% of median
Current snowpack ranks as the all-time highest peak snowpack since 1981 based on SNOTEL data.
14 out of 16 snow monitoring stations are setting new April 1 records.
Notable record: Blue Lakes all-time April 1 record snowpack based on 105 years of record.

Walker Basin
April 1 Snowpack 306% of median
Current snowpack ranks as the all-time highest peak snowpack since 1981 based on SNOTEL data.
9 out of 10 snow monitoring stations are setting new April 1 records.
Notable record: Sonora Pass all-time April 1 record snowpack based on 89 years of record.

Upper Humboldt Basin
April 1 Snowpack 230% of median
Snowpack is currently second highest peak since 1981 based on SNOTEL data. Only 1984 peaked higher.
6 out of 27 snow monitoring stations are setting new April 1 records.
Notable record: All three Lamoille Canyon sites have all-time April 1 record snowpack based on 85-91 years.

Upper Colorado Basin
April 1 Snowpack 157% of median
Snowpack is currently third highest peak since 1986 based on SNOTEL data. Only 1997 and 1993 were higher.
Notable record: 20 SNOTEL sites with at least 30 years of data are measuring their highest April 1 snowpack.

Spring Mountains
April 1 Snowpack 788% of median. Spring Mtn sites typically peak March 5 and are already melting by April.
Snowpack is currently second highest peak since 2009 based on SNOTEL data. Only 2011 peaked higher.