November dry in Valley

November was as dry as October was wet in Carson Valley. Minden Weather Watcher Stan Kapler reported the Douglas County seat received .13 inches of moisture during the month, most of that in Thursday's storm.

While official totals aren't ready yet, Minden is still well above the 1.47 inches it receives in the first two months of the water year starting Oct. 1. According to the Weather Service, and Kapler's numbers for the two months, 2.39 inches of moisture fell.

Southern portions of Douglas County and northern Mono County received far more snow than the Valley.

Up in the mountains, the water picture looks a little brighter.

Ebbetts Pass received two feet of snow during the most recent storm, according to Natural Resources Conservation Service telemetry. The snow pack is at 29 inches at the SNOTEL site, located at 8,765 feet near Highway 4 at the headwaters of the Carson River.

The snow-water equivalent is only 4 inches, less than half of the 8.68 inches it should be for this time of year.

While much is being made of the El Nino this year, forecasters say it's just as likely to be a dry year as a wet one.

The National Weather Service is predicting another storm could arrive in Carson Valley during the weekend.