California’s snowpack has hit a 25-year milestone, reaching 96 percent of the historical average.
The accumulation of snow in the Sierra Nevada and other high-altitude regions serves as a critical water source for the state.
Significant snow falling in the Sierra Nevada over the next few days could be the region’s last big snow dump of the season, showcasing a dramatic rebound for the snowpack that provides a significant portion of California’s water reserves through the rest of the year.
Despite some heavy rainstorms and squalls of snow in recent months, the Sierra Nevada snowpack today stands at 90% of average, according to state officials.
This year’s measurements mark the first below-average snowpack since 2022, when it dropped to a dismal 38% of the historical average.
After a wild winter, California is celebrating the start of spring with near-normal water levels. That’s caused some people to wonder whether a weather miracle is possible. Will California see a so-called “Miracle March” after a flurry of late winter storms? The Sacramento Bee reached out to weather experts to find out the answers.
The California Department of Water Resources announced an increased water supply allocation for 2024.
The forecasted allocation has increased to 40%, up from 30% last month.
The increase would provide an additional 420,000 acre-feet of water, according to the department. That’s enough water to serve around 1.5 million households for a year.
Wearing snowshoes and aviator sunglasses, Gov. Gavin Newsom stood in a field near Lake Tahoe recently and listened as an engineer from the Department of Water Resources announced the results of California’s April snow survey, which is conducted every year when snow depths in the Sierra Nevada reach their maximum.
Californians don’t have to worry too much about drought for the foreseeable future.
The state’s Department of Water Resources said Tuesday’s snowpack survey revealed the snowfall in the Sierra Nevada mountains is above average at roughly 113%.
The Sierra Nevada was so bereft of snow in December that skiers and farmersalike worried that a disappointing winter was sure to give way to a drought-ridden spring and summer.
State officials on Friday doubled the amount of water California agencies will get this year following some strong storms that increased the snowpack in the mountains.
California’s snowpack is above average this winter following a series of storms that replenished one of the state’s most crucial water supplies, but still far behind where it stood during last year’s especially wet winter.
