California drought: Sierra snowpack falls to one of lowest levels in 70 years

January-March was driest such three-month period in San Francisco since records began during Gold Rush

Nick Ellis, Lauren Alkire, and Sean de Guzman of the California Department of Water Resources, take measurements March 1, 2022 during a snow survey at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada west of Lake Tahoe off Highway 50 in El Dorado County. (Photo: Ken James / California Department of Water Resources)

By PAUL ROGERS | progers@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News GroupPUBLISHED: April 1, 2022 at 5:45 a.m. | UPDATED: April 1, 2022 at 4:08 p.m.

Stressed by high temperatures and a record run of dry weather over the last three months, the Sierra Nevada snowpack, the source of 30% of the state’s water supply, has hit one of its lowest levels for the end of winter in generations.

With state water officials scheduled to conduct a snow survey Friday near Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort, automatic sensors spread across the vast mountain range showed snow levels were just 39% of normal on Wednesday. The measurements were the latest evidence that California’s three-year drought is growing more severe.

From a water-supply standpoint, the April 1 Sierra snow reading is traditionally considered the most important of the year. Very little snow falls after April 1, so water planners at cities, farms and wildlife agencies are able to assess how much is available for the summer ahead…..More Here

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California drought: Sierra snowpack falls to one of lowest levels in 70 years

January-March was driest such three-month period in San Francisco since records began during Gold Rush

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