December precipitation already better than average

Leaving a landscape resembling something out of Dr. Suess, sagebrush and trees sprouted snowballs as classic Sierra cement dumped slush in Carson Valley.

As of Monday morning, Minden had already received more than its full measure of precipitation for the entire month of December.

Only a third of the way through the month, weather watcher Stan Kapler reported 2.11 inches and 5 inches of snow has fallen so far this month. Kapler said Monday he recorded 1.39 inches of rain just from the three-day storm.

The average for the month is 1.54 inches, though it has been 20 years since Minden received 8.3 inches of precipitation during December 2002. It also has a ways to go to catch up to the 3.33 inches that fell in December 2021.

The National Weather Service reported 8 inches of snow a mile northwest of Indian Hills and three miles southwest of Minden as a result of the weekend storm.

Heavenly Ski Resort reported three feet of new snow at the base, actually receiving less than many ski resorts around the region. Zephyr Cove reported 30 inches as of Sunday morning.

That topped the 7.3 inches on Kingsbury and Heavenly Valley.

Genoa recorded 7 inches of snow, as did a spot three miles west southwest of the Gardnerville Ranchos.

Topaz Ranch Estates reported 5 inches of snow from the storm.

Minden, Gardnerville and the Ranchos proper reported 4 inches.

Precipitation fell as rain in Carson Valley during much of the day on Saturday, turning to snow around 6 p.m. Heavenly suspended operations around 10 a.m. Saturday due to the possibility of lightning.

Forecasters say a high pressure ridge has returned, blocking new storms through this week and into next. However, the cold temperatures will keep the snowpack in the refrigerator as Christmas approaches.