NCDC: Climate of 2003 - December

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Climate of 2003 - December
Nevada Drought

National Climatic Data Center, 15 January 2004

Rain and snow during December 2003 brought short-term relief to Nevada. Precipitation averaged across the state gave the month a rank of 13th wettest December in the 109-year record. However, the recent rains have done little to replenish depleted reservoir levels. According to news reports (The Salt Lake Tribune, 12/15),

In response to an ever-shrinking Lake Mead, the source for Las Vegas water, the Southern Utah Nevada Authority has declared a "drought alert." Effective Jan. 1, new residential and commercial water restrictions were implemented.

Statewide Precipitation Ranks
for Nevada , 2003
Period	Rank
Dec	13^th wettest ( 97^th driest)
Nov-Dec	23^rd wettest ( 86^th driest)
Oct-Dec	44^th wettest ( 65^th driest)
Sep-Dec	52^nd driest
Aug-Dec	33^rd wettest ( 77^th driest)
Jul-Dec	33^rd wettest ( 76^th driest)
Jun-Dec	47^th wettest ( 62^nd driest)
May-Dec	51^st wettest ( 59^th driest)
Apr-Dec	35^th wettest ( 75^th driest)
Mar-Dec	42^nd wettest ( 68^th driest)
Feb-Dec	46^th wettest ( 64^th driest)
Jan-Dec	52^nd driest

Click here for graphic showing precipitation departures, January 1998 - present

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Click here for graphic showing Palmer Z Index, January 1998 - present

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Click here for graphic showing precipitation, December 1895-2003

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Click here for graphic showing Palmer Hydrological Drought Index, January 1900 - December 2003

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NCDC / Clim. Monitoring / Climate-2003 / Dec / U.S. Regional Drought / Search / Help

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Last Updated Friday, 18-Nov-2005 14:11:49 EST by Richard.Heim@noaa.gov
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