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How Sierra Nevada Record Snowpack Will Impact California Drought

/in , , /by /Newsweekby Jess Thomson

The snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains, which has continued to increase throughout January as a result of storms battering much of the state since the New Year, might help California combat its ongoing drought.

As of January 20, the Sierra snowpack state-wide was at 240 percent of the average for this time of year. The South Sierra stations, located between the San Joaquin and Mono counties through to Kern county, reported snowpacks at 283 percent of the January 20 average.

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Colorado River Water Negotiators Optimistic Ahead of Deadline

/in , , /by /Bloomberg Lawby Bobby Magill

Officials involved in the talks over how to cut Colorado River water use amid a historic drought say they’re optimistic a consensus will be reached by states before a Feb. 1 deadline even though the negotiations are in a delicate place.

If the seven Western states don’t reach consensus, the Interior Department’s Bureau of Reclamation will consider mandating water cuts—a move the states are working feverishly to avoid.

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Opinion: Have No Prop. 1 Water Projects Been Built in California? No, but They Are Moving Slowly

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby George Skelton

California voters approved a ballyhooed $7.5-billion bond issue eight-plus years ago thinking the state would build dams and other vital water facilities. But it hasn’t built zilch. True or false?

That’s the rap: The voters were taken. The state can’t get its act together.

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California Weather Forecasters Bolstered by Airborne Researchers Diving Into Atmospheric Rivers

/in , , /by /CBS Bay Areaby Jessica Burch

As the parade of storms hitting California leaves behind widespread damage and impacts, scientists are literally diving into these atmospheric river events to better predict and understand what’s coming on the horizon.

Flying over the Pacific Ocean on specially-equipped aircraft, the “hurricane hunters” of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration play a huge role in helping communities determine the severity of atmospheric river storms.

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California Went From Drought to ‘Epic’ Snow. What It Could Mean for Spring Flooding

/in , /by /The Sacramento Beeby Ryan Lillis

Nearly every square mile of California was in a severe drought four months ago. The first six months of 2022 were the driest on record and, in many corners of the state, the rest of the year wasn’t much better.

Now we’re worrying about whether we have too much water in some places.

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How Lake Mead Water Levels Look After Weeks of Heavy Rainfall

/in , , /by /Newsweekby Robyn White

California and Nevada have had extremely heavy rainfall in recent days, during one of the severest droughts the region has ever seen.

So what does that mean for the water levels at Lake Mead?

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Opinion: How California Can Prepare for Future Floods Before a Megastorm Hits

/in , , /by /CalMattersby Gerald Meral

Californians have suddenly turned their attention from drought to flooding.

The future likelihood of a series of huge atmospheric rivers in California, a so-called ARk storm scenario, seems to be a certainty. Atmospheric rivers channel moist tropical air towards the West Coast, where mountains condense it to rain and snow. Over the last few weeks, California has suffered through a sneak peak of its devastating potential.

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For All Their Ferocity, California Storms Were Not Likely Caused by Global Warming, Experts Say

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Louis Sahagun

As California emerges from a two-week bout of deadly atmospheric rivers, a number of climate researchers say the recent storms appear to be typical of the intense, periodic rains the state has experienced throughout its history and not the result of global warming.

Although scientists are still studying the size and severity of storms that killed 19 people and caused up to $1 billion in damage, initial assessments suggest the destruction had more to do with California’s historic drought-to-deluge cycles, mountainous topography and aging flood infrastructure than it did with climate-altering greenhouse gasses.

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Opinion: Suddenly, Water is Everywhere. So Are Questions About Saving More of It.

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Michael Smolens Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Many years ago, scientists predicted climate change would result in more intense weather swings, the likes of which California is currently experiencing: extended stretches of drought interrupted by periods of hard rains.

Now as before, people raise the same question when atmospheric rivers hit and massive storm runoff flows into the ocean: Why can’t we capture more of that and store it for the dry seasons?

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All the Rain and Snow in California May Result in a Big Year for Hydro — and That’s Good News for the Grid

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Rob Nikolewski

Torrential rain across California in recent weeks has caused plenty of misery, but it could also generate some good news on the energy front: If rain and snow totals hold up, all the precipitation will boost hydroelectric production — and that would help the Golden State’s electric grid, especially in the summertime when the system comes under strain.

“Based on the reservoir levels and what we’re seeing this year, we expect to have more hydroelectricity generated this year than we have for the last several years,” said Lindsay Buckley, director of communications at the California Energy Commission.

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