California water officials on Friday are set to gauge the state’s snowpack for the second time this season, which may reveal some bleak numbers following a relatively dry month.January is typically one of the wetter months for California, but the month saw about three weeks of dry weather. Starting in December, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) makes monthly treks to Phillips Station along Highway 50 to measure the amount of snow in the Sierra.(See a live update later Friday in the video below.)The snow survey is important because the Sierra snowpack functions as another reservoir once it all melts and swells the state’s rivers and lakes. December’s survey showed the state was at 50% of the average for that time of year.Early January storms brought in more than a foot of snow in parts of the Sierra, but much of it is already gone because of a lack of additional snow to accumulate snow depth.Each year, when the snow surveys are conducted, results can vary. Some years start strong and end abysmally, while some years start slow and finish strong. As of this writing, it appears that December started strong, while January will likely show that there is more to be desired from the snowpack. Friday’s snow survey begins at 11 a.m. Ahead of the event, DWR data shows that statewide, the snowpack is 59% of average for this time of year. Below are the percentages for the average this time of year based on region:Northern Region: 43%Central Region: 60%Southern Region: 78%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
California water officials on Friday are set to gauge the state’s snowpack for the second time this season, which may reveal some bleak numbers following a relatively dry month.
January is typically one of the wetter months for California, but the month saw about three weeks of dry weather. Starting in December, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) makes monthly treks to Phillips Station along Highway 50 to measure the amount of snow in the Sierra.
(See a live update later Friday in the video below.)
The snow survey is important because the Sierra snowpack functions as another reservoir once it all melts and swells the state’s rivers and lakes. December’s survey showed the state was at 50% of the average for that time of year.
Early January storms brought in more than a foot of snow in parts of the Sierra, but much of it is already gone because of a lack of additional snow to accumulate snow depth.
Each year, when the snow surveys are conducted, results can vary. Some years start strong and end abysmally, while some years start slow and finish strong. As of this writing, it appears that December started strong, while January will likely show that there is more to be desired from the snowpack.
Friday’s snow survey begins at 11 a.m. Ahead of the event, DWR data shows that statewide, the snowpack is 59% of average for this time of year. Below are the percentages for the average this time of year based on region:
Northern Region: 43%Central Region: 60%Southern Region: 78%
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