While recent winter storms brought a sigh of relief and a welcome dose of precipitation to the region, California’s crucial “frozen reservoir” still has a long way to go to reach average levels for this time of year.
The California Department of Water Resources conducted its third snow survey of the season at Phillips Station February 27th, recording 28 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 11 inches. That figure stands at 47 percent of the average for this location for early March.
Statewide, the picture remains similarly challenged, with the snowpack sitting at just 66 percent of the average for this date.
Locally, the impacts of our erratic winter are clear. Looking up toward Diamond Mountain, the view reveals thin, patchy snow stretching nearly to the summit—a stark reminder of how recent warm rains from the latest storm system washed away much of the snow that had accumulated during the colder, more productive storms in early February.
A Season of Swings
The DWR noted that while the mid-February storms were some of the coldest and most effective snow-producers seen since 2023, they were not enough to overcome the dry spell that preceded them or the subsequent warming trends.
Andy Reising, Manager of DWR’s Snow Survey’s and Water Supply Forecasting Unit explains, “The snowpack is in better shape than it was one month ago, but we only have a month left of our snow-accumulation season and time is rapidly running out to catch up.”
Regional Distribution and Water Security
The distribution of this year’s snowfall has been notably uneven. While the Southern Sierra Nevada is faring better at 90 percent of the average, the Northern Sierra Nevada—home to many of the state’s largest water supply reservoirs—is only at 46 percent of normal.
DWR Director Karla Nemeth emphasized the volatility of the current climate, noting that California’s water supply is increasingly tied to a smaller number of major, intense storms.
“The dramatic wet-dry swings this winter remind us again that ever-warmer average temperatures have reshaped the California water cycle,” Nemeth said. “We must adapt.”
Despite the below-average snowpack, California’s major reservoirs remain in relatively good standing, currently sitting at 122 percent of their historical average for this time of year. State water managers continue to prioritize capturing and storing as much of the runoff as possible.
As we head into Spring, the state’s focus remains on monitoring the pack as it approaches the historical peak on April 1st. For more information on current hydrological conditions, visit cww.water.ca.gov.
