California’s snowpack remains below average despite a winter marked by both intense storms and unseasonably warm weather, the state’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) reported on Friday.
The latest snow survey, the third of the season, revealed that statewide snowpack levels are at 85% of the historical average for early March. This decline follows a season of weather extremes, where powerful atmospheric river storms were followed by dry, warm periods. The snowpack percentage has already dropped from 97% in mid-February and will continue to decrease unless more snowfall occurs, the department warned.
While additional storms are expected in March, officials say there’s no certainty they will bring enough snow to reach the average levels by April 1, the traditional peak of the snowpack season. Carlos Molina, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Hanford, expressed skepticism that upcoming systems will bring significant relief.
“It’s a cold system, but it lacks the moisture needed to build up the snowpack,” Molina told SFGATE.
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Forecasters predict this weekend’s storm could deliver up to a foot of snow at elevations above 5,000 feet, with another system later in the week expected to bring an additional 6 to 8 inches.
Uneven Snowpack Distribution
Snowpack levels vary significantly across California’s mountain regions. The Northern Sierra is faring well, with snowpack reaching 104% of its seasonal average. However, the Central Sierra sits at just 80%, and the Southern Sierra lags further behind at 70%.
“Statewide averages can be misleading,” said Andy Reising, manager of DWR’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit. “Many storms have bypassed Southern California, creating a large disparity in snowpack levels across different watersheds.”
Water Supply Outlook
Although the snowpack provides about 30% of California’s annual water supply, the state’s reservoirs remain above historical averages, helping to buffer the impact of lower snow levels.
This year’s below-average snowpack marks a shift from the previous two winters, which saw exceptionally wet conditions and above-normal snowfall.
“This year, we’re struggling to even reach 100%,” Molina noted.
With continued uncertainty, state water managers will need to carefully monitor conditions heading into the critical spring months.
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