Sparse snowpack may lead to increased wildfire danger in the months ahead for San Diego County.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — California is heading out of winter with one of its lowest snowpack levels on record, raising concerns among experts about an extended and potentially more dangerous wildfire season, even in regions like San Diego County.
The state’s snowpack, which serves as a crucial water source during the warmer months, is now sitting at just a fraction of its average after a dry, unusually warm end to winter.
Meteorologists say persistent high-pressure systems played a major role in the shortfall.
“All the storm tracks have been pushed north, well north of us, and we’ve been under extreme high pressure for this time of year,” said Ivory Small with the National Weather Service in San Diego.
That same high-pressure system also brought record heat in March, accelerating snowmelt and further reducing already limited snowpack.
“Best way to put it is horrible,” Small said. “From what I understand, it’s down around 10 to 20 percent of normal, which is terrible.”
The impacts go beyond water supply. Snowpack helps regulate how quickly vegetation dries out in spring and summer. With less snow, plants and grasses dry earlier, creating more fuel for wildfires.
“As we’ve seen over the past couple years, we truly are in a year-round fire season,” said Robert Johnson with CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire.
Recent warm temperatures are already drying out brush across San Diego County, though officials say vegetation moisture levels have not yet reached critical levels.
“Once the moisture gets below the 60 percent level, that increases the potential for a large and damaging fire in the event that there is a fire ignition,” Johnson said.
With peak fire season approaching, officials are urging residents to take steps now to protect their homes.
“We urge residents to continue to maintain that defensible space around their homes,” Johnson said. “That’s going to provide them with a much-needed barrier from their house to a potential oncoming wildfire.”
That includes clearing dead brush, removing flammable materials, and being cautious when doing yard work that could spark a fire.
“We want people to maintain that defensible space. We just don’t want them to do the right thing at the wrong time,” Johnson added.
While additional storms could still improve conditions, experts warn that without meaningful rain or snowfall in the coming weeks, California may face an earlier start to wildfire season with heightened activity.