Sierra Nevada mountains Archives

California, Battered by Atmospheric Rivers, Faces a Big Melt This Spring

March 15, 2023/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Inside Climate Newsby Bob Berwyn

The latest atmospheric river surging into California probably won’t result in worst-case flooding, state water officials and scientists said Monday. But as global warming shifts the range of possibilities, this winter’s often record levels of snow and rain could set the stage for deluges in spring if there are more strong storms or an early heatwave, they warned.

The series of intense storms started on the last day of 2022, resulting in early January floods that killed 22 people and a federal emergency declaration in 17 counties.

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More Moisture is Headed to Utah, the West. Will It Help Lake Powell?

March 14, 2023/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Deseret Newsby Amy Joi O’Donoghue

Lake Powell is currently close to 180 feet below full pool and coming off a summer last year where several boat ramps were closed and owners were advised to retrieve their houseboats from the docks.

Releases from a couple of upstream reservoirs, including Flaming Gorge, were made last summer to help the nation’s second largest reservoir and its Glen Canyon Dam, which provides power generation to Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Nebraska.

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Sierra Snowpack Hits Record Levels After Recent Storms

March 13, 2023/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Newsweekby Jess Thomson

The snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains has reached record-breaking levels thanks to the deluge of snow smashing California this week.

According to data from the California Department of Water Resources (CDWR), the Southern Sierras—from San Joaquin and Mono counties to Kern county—currently have a snowpack 257 percent greater than the average for this time of year, and 247 percent larger than is average for the usual snowpack peak on April 1.

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How California Atmospheric River Will Impact Snowpack in Sierras

March 8, 2023/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Newsweekby Robyn White

An atmospheric river is set to descend on California in coming days, following a spate of wet weather across the state.

An atmospheric river is a corridor of concentrated, tropical moisture traveling through the atmosphere. The river has raised an alert for significant flooding throughout California, and experts have warned of severe disruption.

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How the Winter Storm Could Impact California Reservoirs

February 24, 2023/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Newsweekby Pandora Dewan

Southern California is bracing for a cold winter storm this weekend that is expected to bring up to 5 feet of snow accumulation in certain areas.

While this forecast might curtail your outdoor weekend plans, it is excellent news for the state’s recovering water reservoirs.

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How Sierra Nevada Record Snowpack Will Impact California Drought

January 23, 2023/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /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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Citing Drought, US Won’t Give Water to California Farmers

February 24, 2022/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /AP Newsby Adam Beam

With California entering the third year of severe drought, federal officials said Wednesday they won’t deliver any water to farmers in the state’s major agricultural region — a decision that will force many to plant fewer crops in the fertile soil that yields the bulk of the nation’s fruits, nuts and vegetables.

“It’s devastating to the agricultural economy and to those people that rely on it,” said Ernest Conant, regional director for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. “But unfortunately we can’t make it rain.”

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Sierra Could Get 80 More Inches of Snow By Christmas

December 23, 2021/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Gayle Falkenthal /KTVUby Lisa Fernandez

Snow, snow, snow!

The folks at UC Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Lab have been tracking the fluffy white stuff and predict that Christmas will be the snowiest day of the week.

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Opinion: Will California Step Up on Water?

November 18, 2021/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /Bakersfield.comby Jason Giannelli

California is experiencing a devastating water crisis, by some accounts the worst in the last 1,200 years. Drought is hammering the two primary water delivery systems on which millions of Californians rely — the Colorado River and the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Most of the state — and especially the south San Joaquin Valley and Kern County — is suffering badly. Extensive planning, and solid investments funded by large coffers, have enabled large portions of Southern California to get through 2021 without rationing. But the experience here in the Central Valley is far different. Thousands of acres fallowed. Jobs lost and hours cut. Multiple cities with water restrictions. Wells running dry. These disparate outcomes are highlighting the current inequalities in drought preparedness and a broken system. There is also the sobering reality that Southern Californians may too be thirsty again soon.

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Sierra Nevada Sees First Snow of the Season. Expect a Cold Snap in the Sacramento Valley

November 9, 2020/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /The Sacramento Beeby Vincent Moleski

Cold weather is headed toward Northern California, with forecasters warning of severe weather in the Sierra Nevada as the first snow of the season touches down on the peaks, and frosty temperatures in the Sacramento Valley.

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