Driest Calendar Year Start On Record For California Snowpack; Could Be Gone By Late April

[hatrack]

California’s mountain snowpack is rapidly shrinking after the driest start to the calendar year on record and a late-March heat wave. Melting could accelerate with another heat wave next week.

The snowpack outlook looked encouraging near the beginning of winter. Prolific December storms built the snowpack to 160 percent of average by Dec. 30. At the time, the state was entering the wettest months of the year with a promising surplus that boosted hopes for drought recovery. But those gains have been lost.

On Friday, the California Department of Water Resources conducted its monthly snow survey at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada. Standing in a nearly snow-free meadow, Sean de Guzman, manager of the department’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting, measured only 2.5 inches of snow depth — only 4 percent of average for the date at that location.

“With below average rain and snow statewide, California is now facing a third consecutive year of dry conditions and extending this ongoing drought,” he said. “This past January, February and March have been actually the driest period on record in the Sierra Nevada dating over 100 years.”

Link to tweet

EDIT

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2022/04/01/california-snowpack-summer-drought/

[2naSalit]

1. Not looking any better in this part of the Rockies.

We're expecting to be breathing smoke all summer.