2 Months To Go For CA Winter; Sierra Snowpack Down To 72% Of Average, W. Some Dry Weeks Ahead
All that sunny, dry weather in January is beginning to take a toll on California’s water supply. As of Thursday, the statewide Sierra Nevada snowpack — a major source of water for cities and farms across the state — stood at 72% of its historical average for that date, down from 90% a month ago.
While concerning, experts say it’s no time to panic and not a sign that the state is necessarily headed toward a drought. California still has two more months of winter weather ahead. And many of the state’s biggest reservoirs are currently at or near their historic averages due to wet conditions last year.
“It’s decent. It’s still slightly below average,” said Sean de Guzman, chief of snow surveys and water forecasting for the state Department of Water Resources. “But we have a couple more months to see what will happen.”
By comparison, on Jan. 31, 2019, the statewide Sierra snowpack was at exactly 100% of normal. But by April 1, it jumped to 161% of normal thanks to multiple storms hitting the West Coast in February and March that brought heavy rain and snow. “It just shows how unpredictable snow and precipitation are in California,” de Guzman said. “A few atmospheric rivers can dramatically change the water year.” Forecasts for the next 10 days show mostly dry, sunny conditions across Northern and Southern California, meaning the snow pack will almost certainly get smaller in the coming weeks.
EDIT
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/01/30/sierra-nevada-snowpack-declining-after-dry-january/
