Precipitation in Southern Nevada

Abstract

The distribution of precipitation in both time and space in the southern Nevada area is examined. It is concluded that this area can be divided into two zones of precipitation separated by a transition zone on the basis of annual average precipitation. One region, relative to the other area, is defined to be a deficit annual average precipitation region. This observation could have a significant impact on groundwater recharge estimates and on the siting of facilities which must be protected from flash floods. In addition precipitation records at two stations in the southern Nevada area were examined and point intensity/duration relationships were derived for these stations.