As California enters another year in a drought, a recent snowpack measurement does show signs of encouragement.
The state’s Department of Water Resources says a late December snowpack measurement came in at 108 percent of average.
At the site where California Governor Jerry Brown stood in April absent of snow, the state recently measured five feet of snowpack, which is 136 percent of average for December.
The Sacramento-Bee reports the measurements give hope California can make progress against the drought this winter, particularly amid forecasts of a strong El Nino season.
However, the results will not be known until April or May, when the snowpack typically peaks.
State officials cautioned early season snowpack measurements can be deceiving, noting that last year’s December snowpack was at 50 percent of average but by April was down to five percent.
