First wet storm of December arriving

The first wet storm system of December will roll in late this weekend bringing rain, but little snow to the Carson Valley. According to the National Weather Service, snow levels will start at 7,000 feet late Sunday and will drop to 5,000 feet by Monday morning.

Motorists whose commute takes them through the Sierra on Monday should anticipate snowy conditions.

Up to a foot of snow is expected to fall near the crest of the Sierra with several inches expected west of Highway 395 above 5,500 feet.

Light rain is expected to fall through today and increase by Sunday afternoon.

Precipitation in the Carson River basin is well ahead of average, according to figures compiled by the National Weather Service.

Natural Resources Conservation Service snow telemetry shows that all five sites in the Sierra that feed the Carson River are ranging from 121 percent of average to 152 percent at Monitor Pass, which reported 5.6 inches of moisture during the month of November.

Ebbetts Pass which feeds the Carson River's East Fork reported 9.4 inches of moisture during the month, or 131 percent of average. Ebbetts has 35 inches of snow on the ground as of midnight Saturday.

For the second year in a row, Minden has led the way toward its total moisture for the year with an additional 1.2 inches falling in November. That, and 3.49 inches falling in October, put the Douglas County seat at 319 percent of average for the water year and 56 percent of the moisture that typically falls during the whole year.