California’s snowpack is nearly gone this year, and new measurements show just how severe the situation has become.
State water officials conducted their most important manual snow survey of the season on Wednesday at Phillips Station near Lake Tahoe. It’s a site that typically represents statewide conditions at a time when the snowpack is traditionally at its peak.
This year, they found no measurable snow. Only a few scattered patches prevented it from becoming the lowest reading in recorded history.
How bad is it statewide?
Across California, the snowpack is sitting at just 18% of average.
That makes it the second-lowest April measurement on record.
A stretch of unusually warm weather in March accelerated melting across the Sierra Nevada, wiping out much of what had accumulated earlier in the winter.
Why does snowpack matter?
The Sierra snowpack plays a critical role in California’s water system. It typically provides about 30% of the state’s water supply.
Snowpack acts as a natural reservoir, storing water over winter and releasing it slowly as temperatures warm in spring and summer.
Rain doesn’t do that, but more of California’s precipitation is now falling as rain instead of snow.
When precipitation falls as rain, most of it runs off quickly.
Climate scientists say California’s disappearing snowpack is part of a longer-term shift and is a trend that’s expected to continue as the climate warms.
Why does this matter across California?
The state’s low snowpack could have wide-ranging impacts, from less water available during the dry season to increased stress on agriculture and ecosystems to increased pressure on water management systems.
It could also affect wildfire conditions.
With less snowmelt, forests may dry out faster.
Fire officials are already warning that California could see an earlier start to wildfire season this year.
