BLM OVERVIEW OF NEVADA’S WEATHER DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS

2004
Generally speaking precipitation during the 2004 water year (the water year is 10/1 – 9/30) in Nevada was less than 90% of average across the state, except along the eastern boundary where precipitation was near normal and in southern Clark County where precipitation was above average. Depending on location, this dry spell started in 1998 or 1999 and included the 1999 through 2001 fire seasons. From 2002 through 2004 fire activity in Nevada was comparatively low. This can be partially attributed to dry weather and poor cheatgrass growth. While there was lightning, the cheatgrass was more scattered, so few strikes grew into large fires.

2005
For the 2005 water year precipitation was much above average across the state with much of the southern half of the state receiving over 150% of average precipitation. Approximately 850,000 acres burned between Las Vegas and St. George, UT during the early summer of 2005. These fires got so big because of the continuous cover of red brome, a cousin of cheatgrass that thrives in the Mohave Desert.

2006
For the 2006 water year precipitation was at or above average over most of northern Nevada and average to near average over most of the rest of the state. Most of the precipitation came early in the water year. 2006 was another severe fire year, especially in Elko County, where nearly 1 million acres burned.

2007
In the 2007 water year Nevada received less than average precipitation. Large areas of western and southern Nevada got less than 50% of average precipitation. While almost 1 million acres burned again in 2007, most of it happened during a 2 week period in early July.

2008
From October 1, 2007, the start of the 2008 water year, through November the dry parts of the state, the Sierra watersheds and southeastern Nevada stayed dry. While most of the northern border watersheds were at or above 100% of average precipitation.

Winter storms started hitting western and southern Nevada early in December and continued into early February. All the Sierra Nevada watersheds in Nevada are now at or above average snowpack. Summer streamflows are expected to range from over 80% of average in Nevada’s Snake River tributaries to over 120% of average in the Lower Colorado River watershed.