LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Spring signifies a time of change in the desert, where the beauty of blooming flowers comes hand in hand with the onset of allergy season and the wind that shapes our landscape.
Join us all week as Channel 13's weather team explores the impacts of this transition.
Check out what's in store for Spring this season with the Channel 13 weather team
As we leave winter behind, the melting snowpack will play a crucial role in replenishing our water supply — but that’s just one aspect of the seasonal shift.
This time of year also brings increasingly windy conditions, which are common due to seasonal atmospheric transitions from low to high pressure. The winds can stir up pollen and dust, making spring a challenging season for allergy sufferers. Plus, we can't forget about the warmer temperatures beginning to settle in.
How did we do? Checking on the snowpack as warmer months approach
The Las Vegas Wash serves as a crucial urban river that connects the valley's water back to Lake Mead. But as locals know, the reservoir has seen a significant decline in recent decades.
To check in on how winter did for water quantities, Geneva Zoltek spoke with hydrologist David Kreamer. He recalled a time when Boulder Harbor was fully operational, with boats floating above the current dry landscape marked by the visible "bathtub ring." Today, Lake Mead sits about 160 feet below its brim, prompting concerns from scientists who suggest it may never refill.
Snowmelt from the Rockies is essential for replenishing water supplies; however, recent USDA reports indicate the Upper Colorado Basin sits at just 86% median snowpack. Even more stark is the Las Vegas Basin at just 6% of median for the end of March.
Southern Nevada Water Authority spokesperson Bronson Mack noted the region may experience a 10-foot drop in Lake Mead this year and that spring runoff return will only be 71%. Mack says these warming and drying trends emphasize the need for residents to continue in water conservation efforts as extreme drought conditions persist.
Stay with us all week as we continue our Spring Forward series.