Reno-Sparks water supply much improved after 3 months of rain, snow

After a few rainy, snowy months, the region's water outlook is solidly above target.

The Truckee and Tahoe basins are at 115% of normal, according to the Truckee Meadows Water Authority, and the Sierra snowpack is at 105% of average across all stations, according to California Water Watch.

But it took a furious three-month rally to get back to normal levels. On Dec. 31, the snow-water equivalent at Big Meadows — the station closest to Reno-Sparks — stood at just 54% of average to date. Sunday's reading at the station was 98% of average to date. The snow-water equivalent at other nearby stations also reported much-improved levels through the first quarter of 2024: