While we've enjoyed sunny skies and warm temperatures thus far this winter, the dry conditions are a concern among many, especially water surveyors and firefighters.
Ski resorts at Lake Tahoe are struggling with what remains from early December storms and the snow they make overnight. The foothills to the east and west, which should be steeped in a least a couple inches, have a dusting or are completely parched. Local lakes and reservoirs have been drying up as seen in the photos above of Lahontan and Washoe lakes taken by Duane Blood of Carson City.
Looking at this morning's National Weather Service discussion page, there's a potential for change coming later this week. The persistent upper level ridge that has been responsible for this dry spell appears to be breaking down.
Forecasters say confidence is increasing that remnants of a tropical system that is over the west Pacific will spread moisture eastward and in the general direction of Northern California and Western Nevada.
The more southerly the system would mean we could get a decent shot of mountain snow and lower elevation rain. Right now, forecasters aren't quite confident about how far south the system will stretch.
When it comes to forecasting, it was Bob Dylan who noted "you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows." Dylan wasn't singing about the weather, mind you. The sentiment being that forces were building and a pattern for change was forming.
In our case here in Northern Nevada, the pattern could either spell continued unseasonably warm and dry conditions or a February filled with much-needed Sierra snow and valley rain. Stay tuned.