FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – A winter storm boosts the Sierra Snowpack to 39%, but the DWR says water content still below average.
On Monday, March 5th, the California Department of Water Resources conducted its third snow-pack survey of the year, a supplemental snow survey at Phillips to capture the results of the storm over the weekend.
Frank Gehrke, chief of the California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program, says the winter storm boosted the Sierra Nevada Snowpack to 39% of average for this time of year.
“As indicated by the increase in snow depth and water content from last week to today, this recent storm provided a much-needed boost to our snowpack,” said Gehrke. “Today’s measurements are greater than what we found last week, but not enough to bring the state up to an average year.”
Still, it’s better than February’s measurement of 14% of the average level and 3% in January.
“California has unquestionably experienced a dry winter this year, with a near-record dry February,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “While we’re happy to kick off March with this healthy storm, the variability of this winter’s weather patterns underscores the importance of continued conservation and the ongoing need to strengthen California’s water supply reliability for our people, our economy, and our environment.”
Statewide the snow pack is 37% of normal.
Gehrke measured 41.1 inches Monday at Phillips Station in the Sierra – what’s often called California’s “frozen reservoir “– which normally provides about a third of the water for California’s farms and communities as it melts in the spring and summer and fills reservoirs and rivers.
“Very robust production, very encouraging and hope to see more of these,” said Gehrke.
Gehrke had a warning about the fresh snow;”For any back country skiers – the avalanche hazard is pretty extreme right now.”
Click below to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.
