Heavy Rain in Churchill County, Nevada

Mesonet Station (EDCVY0) located 9.8 mi NE of Cold Springs, NV, and mesonet station (NBNG) located 3.2 mi NE of Lahontan Reservoir, NV, reported rainfall totals of 1.07 inches and 1.06 inches respectively.

The strongest winter storm of December passed through the region on the final two days of December. This storm initially produced very high snow levels near 9000 feet on 30 December. Colder air and enhanced forcing, coupled with the final push of extensive moisture worked in unison to rapidly drop snow levels to most valley floors (above 4000 feet) during the morning of New Years Eve. Although this early change-over to snow reduced the flooding risks, it brought widespread winter travel hazards region-wide. Storm total snow totals ranged from 5' to around 1 foot for lower elevations of western NV/northeast CA with lesser amounts below 4000 feet in west-central Nevada and areas near the Oregon border. Some foothill areas received 1-2 feet plus with Sierra snowfall totals generally ranging from 18-30 inches below 7000 feet. Higher Sierra areas and passes received 3-4 feet plus above 7000 feet. Liquid equivalent totals were impressive with 4-8' in the Tahoe basin/parts of eastern CA and over 10' near the Sierra crest. The Reno Airport's liquid total of 2.26' on the 31st was the third wettest calendar day on record.