Mountains getting the moisture, Valley much dryer

December saw snow falling where it counts, in the mountains, but left Carson Valley light so far.

The Carson River Basin is at 78 percent of average precipitation so far for the water year, but that number is significantly skewed by a lack of moisture in lower elevations.

According to the National Weather Service, sensors at Ebbetts Pass, Monitor Pass and Poison Flat recorded precipitation near average for the month. Monitor Pass received 1-9 percent of average with 3.8 inches of precipitation. Both Poison Flat and Ebbetts Pass were at 99 percent of average for the month.

December is traditionally one of the wet months of the water year, along with January and February.

The numbers for precipitation dropped precipitously as the altitude decreased with Markleeville recording 35 percent of its average 2.32 inches for the month. Minden reported .55 inches, while Gardnerville received .52 inches. Carson Valley typically receives an inch of moisture in December.

So far for the water year, which began on Oct. 1, Minden has received less than half of its average 2.47 inches.

Monitor Pass received .4 inches of moisture in the first week of January for a total of 7.1 inches for the water year. Ebbetts Pass got .8 inches during the same period, bringing it to a total of 19.6 inches according to the National Resource Conservation Service.