California Snowpack Begins to Rebound After Late-December Storms

California’s mountain snowpack got a much-needed boost this week as the California Department of Water Resources completed its first manual snow survey of the season in the Sierra Nevada.

During the survey at Phillips Station, crews measured 24 inches of snow depth with a snow water equivalent of 5 inches. That equals about 50 percent of average for the site, an important early benchmark for forecasting the state’s water supply.

Statewide conditions are more encouraging. According to DWR, California’s snowpack is now 71 percent of average for this date, a significant turnaround after a warm and relatively dry start to December limited early snow buildup. A series of colder storms over the past week helped rebuild the snowpack and establish a stronger base heading into the heart of winter.

Electronic readings from more than 130 monitoring stations across the Sierra Nevada show a statewide snow water equivalent of 6.5 inches. That figure trails last year’s exceptional totals but still puts California in a solid position early in the season.

The Sierra snowpack typically provides about 30 percent of the state’s annual water supply, earning it the nickname “California’s frozen reservoir.” Recent precipitation has also helped push major reservoirs statewide to 123 percent of average.

DWR officials note that January through March remain the most critical months for snow accumulation, and continued storms will be key to determining how much water California has available later this year.