February storms brought new snow to the Sierra Nevada, but California’s snowpack is still below average, sitting at 66% of the usual levels for this time of year. Andy Reising, who manages snow surveys for the state, noted that while things have improved recently, they’re still short of where we need to be.
At Phillips Station near South Lake Tahoe, officials measured the snow and dealt with melting caused by warmer temperatures. Andy even joked about falling into a stream due to the water flowing beneath the snow.
California relies heavily on this snowpack for its water supply—about 30%. This winter, record warmth has turned many winter storms into rain instead of snow, a sign of climate change. In fact, average snow levels in the mountains are rising, changing runoff patterns and stressing water resources.
Currently, the northern Sierra snowpack sits at just 46% of average, while the southern part is doing better at 90%. These measurements come from a network of 130 monitoring stations scattered throughout the mountain range.
California’s snow season usually peaks around April 1, but this year the state has experienced above-average rainfall overall. The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that no areas in California are currently in drought conditions, a contrast to 45% of the western states, where at least moderate drought exists.
Interestingly, the Upper Colorado River Basin’s snowpack stands at only 66% of average too. This reduction could lead to diminished snowmelt, affecting reservoirs that are already low. In Oregon, the snowpack is even worse—just 34% of what’s expected, marking one of the driest years since 1981.
Larry O’Neill, the state climatologist from Oregon State University, highlighted that temperatures from November to January were the highest ever recorded. He suggests that this pattern might become our new normal. “Projections show that our winters are going to look a lot more like this in the future,” he said. “It’s a test of our resiliency concerning water supply.”
The impacts of these changes are not just about local water availability; they affect agriculture, ecosystems, and even economies across the region. As we heed these expert insights, it becomes clear that understanding our snowpack’s fluctuations is crucial in navigating an unpredictable climate future.
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