A mostly dry January left California’s snowpack in serious need of some big snow this month. It’s safe to say that need is being met. A series of storms is bringing huge snow totals to the highest peaks of the Tahoe Basin. As of Wednesday afternoon, ski resort reports are showing anywhere from 4 to almost 7 feet of powder since Sunday.Homewood: 73 inchesPalisades: 65 inchesDodge Ridge: 60 inchesKirkwood: 61 inchesNorthstar: 55 inchesHeavenly: 50 inchesDonner Ski Ranch: 58 inchesSugar Bowl: 57 inchesKCRA viewers at 3000 to 4000 feet have shared their backyard snow totals of two to three feet since Monday.Another round of snow is forecast overnight Wednesday into Thursday. That could bring an additional foot to foot and a half of powdery snow to elevations between 5,000 and 7,000 feet. Grassy accumulation is possible down to 1500 feet Thursday morning. See a map of California snow totals below. California’s snowpack is bouncing backFour days ago, the statewide snowpack was at just 52 percent of average. That means the amount of water stored in the snow was only about half what water managers expect it to be in mid-February. By midday Wednesday, the snowpack jumped by 17 percent. California is now at 69 percent of average for this time of year and 53 percent of the average peak snowpack. That peak typically occurs during the last week of March or first week of April.Valley and Foothills rain totalsRain totals in the Valley and Foothills have been impressive, too with several rounds of beneficial accumulation over the past few days. As of Wednesday evening, major reporting sites in the Valley were showing 2 to 3 inches of accumulation since Sunday night. The Foothills notched 3 to 5 inches of rainfall with places at and above 2000′ seeing snow mix in Tuesday and Wednesday.See a rain totals map of locations across Northern California below.Reservoir and water year updateThis stretch of rainy weather is keeping Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto on track for the average precipitation for this point in the water year. Sacramento has seen more than 12 inches of rain since October 1st. Stockton is close to 11.5 inches and Modesto has had more than 10 inches of rain so far this water year. That’s anywhere from 105 to 133 percent of normal for this point in the season.The colder storms that we’re seeing this week don’t produce much immediate runoff into reservoirs, but current water storage is running higher than normal for mid-February.According to California’s Department of Water Resources, Shasta is at 78 percent of capacity. Lake Oroville is at 80 percent of capacity. Folsom Lake is at 55 percent of capacity which is 114 percent of the historical average.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
A mostly dry January left California’s snowpack in serious need of some big snow this month. It’s safe to say that need is being met.
A series of storms is bringing huge snow totals to the highest peaks of the Tahoe Basin.
As of Wednesday afternoon, ski resort reports are showing anywhere from 4 to almost 7 feet of powder since Sunday.
Homewood: 73 inchesPalisades: 65 inchesDodge Ridge: 60 inchesKirkwood: 61 inchesNorthstar: 55 inchesHeavenly: 50 inchesDonner Ski Ranch: 58 inchesSugar Bowl: 57 inches
KCRA viewers at 3000 to 4000 feet have shared their backyard snow totals of two to three feet since Monday.
Another round of snow is forecast overnight Wednesday into Thursday. That could bring an additional foot to foot and a half of powdery snow to elevations between 5,000 and 7,000 feet. Grassy accumulation is possible down to 1500 feet Thursday morning.
See a map of California snow totals below.
California’s snowpack is bouncing back
Four days ago, the statewide snowpack was at just 52 percent of average. That means the amount of water stored in the snow was only about half what water managers expect it to be in mid-February.
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California’s snowpack is rebounding quickly thanks to this week’s series of storms.
By midday Wednesday, the snowpack jumped by 17 percent. California is now at 69 percent of average for this time of year and 53 percent of the average peak snowpack. That peak typically occurs during the last week of March or first week of April.
Valley and Foothills rain totals
Rain totals in the Valley and Foothills have been impressive, too with several rounds of beneficial accumulation over the past few days.
As of Wednesday evening, major reporting sites in the Valley were showing 2 to 3 inches of accumulation since Sunday night.
The Foothills notched 3 to 5 inches of rainfall with places at and above 2000′ seeing snow mix in Tuesday and Wednesday.
See a rain totals map of locations across Northern California below.Reservoir and water year update
This stretch of rainy weather is keeping Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto on track for the average precipitation for this point in the water year.
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Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto are all reporting rain totals that are above normal for this point in the water year.
Sacramento has seen more than 12 inches of rain since October 1st. Stockton is close to 11.5 inches and Modesto has had more than 10 inches of rain so far this water year. That’s anywhere from 105 to 133 percent of normal for this point in the season.
The colder storms that we’re seeing this week don’t produce much immediate runoff into reservoirs, but current water storage is running higher than normal for mid-February.
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Northern California reservoirs are all storing a little more water than normal for mid February. The numbers shown are the percent of total capacity.
According to California’s Department of Water Resources, Shasta is at 78 percent of capacity. Lake Oroville is at 80 percent of capacity. Folsom Lake is at 55 percent of capacity which is 114 percent of the historical average.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel