Satellite Images Show Complete Transformation of Sierra Snowpack Following April Storms

After a historically dry winter in Northern California, the region was met with a welcomed April downpour which included multiple heavy storms that drenched the valley and brought renewed snowpack to the Sierra. Recently, NASA released satellite images that show the overhead view of the beautiful snowpack transformation.

On April 1, the Sierra snowpack was measured  at 28 percent of average. The satellite image of that day shows barely any snow in the mountains:

Just three weeks later, the snowpack has blossomed:

While the storms are a very welcomed sight for the region, it wasn’t quite a drought buster. On April 22, the NorCal snowpack had grown nearly 10 percent of historical average all the way up to 37 percent. It’s still a low number, but it could help ongoing water issues in the state. The entire statewide snowpack measured in at 35 percent.

The historic dry winter is pushing NorCal into what could become a devastating drought during the summer and fall months of 2022. Even with a much-welcomed stretch of April Showers, extreme drought is moving into the minds of residents and politicians alike.

Cities are already outlining plans to decrease water usage by up to 30 percent in order to meet water demands for farmers, wildlife and residents. These plans aren’t without controversy. Residents will be impacted, asked to cut down water usage and do things like paint their lawns.

An urgency change has allowed officials to hold more water in Shasta Lake and Lake Oroville in preparation of the summer season, but that will certainly have a negative impact on the ecosystem of NorCal rivers. It will also surely have a devastating impact on wildlife, especially salmon runs already decimated by drought conditions, water allocations and dams.

“All the technology in the world so far is only delivering to us the best documented extinction of native species,” said John McManus, president of the Golden State Salmon Association.

The underlying impact of the current drought, which is likely not to be felt for 4-6 months, is wildfires. Following three devastating wildfire seasons, the drought could once again send communities fleeing from deadly flames moving through NorCal. The six largest fires in California’s recorded history happened in the past three years. For the survivors of those fires, wildfire mitigation should be a top priority for the state.

Active NorCal

Telling the Stories of Northern California

39 Comments

  1. Sandalwood vital oil, derived from the East Indian sandalwood tree
    called Santalum album, provides off a soft and sweet-woody aroma.

  2. Following fundamental sorting, we directed our focus on the platform’s fundamentals and ratings frm preceding
    borrowers.

  3. Guadalupe Villegas, 28, had been homeless but had regained
    custody of her two kids, and was operating multiple jobs as a prep cook.

  4. Compact loans from $one hundred presented to borrowers who pass the lender’s affordability assessments and meet
    the loan criteria.

  5. Use the official NFL Ticcket Exchange powered by Ticketmaster,
    and get the peace of thoughts tha your tickets will function on game
    day.

  6. You agree not to use the Services in any manner that interferes with its typical operation or
    with any other user’s use and enjoyment off the Services.

  7. Wow, fantastic weblog format! How long have you ever been running a blog
    for? you made running a blog glance easy. The full look
    of your web site is great, let alone the content material! You can see similar:
    e-commerce and here ecommerce

  8. I’m very pleased to uncover this great site. I wanted to thank you for ones time for this fantastic read!!
    I definitely savored every little bit of it and I have you book marked to see new stuff on your blog.
    I saw similar here: najlepszy sklep and also here:
    sklep online

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Back to top button