El Dorado County (March 5, 2024) – In a dramatic turn of weather events, California’s snowpack has surged to 104% of average for early March after a relentless multi-day blizzard blanketed the Sierra Nevada with 6 to 11 feet of snow. According to the California Department of Water Resources, this surge promises a robust supply of runoff in the coming months.
This unexpected shift comes as a stark contrast to the bleak conditions observed just two months ago when the state’s snowpack languished at a mere 25% of normal on January 2. Heather Cooley, Director of Research at the Pacific Institute, remarked on the notable transformation, stating,
“It’s a pretty stark contrast to where we were in January, when we had very little snow on the mountains.”
As of Tuesday, collaborative readings from 102 snow stations across the Northern, Central, and Southern Sierras revealed that the statewide snowpack had reached 104% of average for this time of the year. The northern region, in particular, boasts an impressive 111% of normal, indicating a substantial accumulation of snow.
Key ski resorts in the region, including Sierra at Tahoe, Heavenly Valley, and Kirkwood, reported substantial snowfall from the recent storm, with Sierra at Tahoe noting a unique aspect of sustained record high winds contributing to wind drifts and densely packed snow. Despite current temperatures suggesting a lower snow density, operators reported it at 20%, significantly higher due to the intense winds during the storm.
The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab near Donner Summit reported a staggering four-day total of 75.2 inches of snow, bringing the snowpack water content at the site to 199% of average for this date. This remarkable change underscores the impact of the recent storm on boosting California’s water reserves.
The Northern Sierra, where snowpack levels reached 111% of normal, bore the brunt of the recent storm, leading to the closure of ski resorts around Lake Tahoe. The Northern and Central Sierra, particularly along Interstate 80 at Donner Summit, experienced significant snowfall, with Caltrans measuring 9.5 feet of snow in Soda Springs and a whopping 10.5 feet at Sugar Bowl. The Donner Summit, which had closed for three days, reopened on Monday morning, allowing traffic to flow once again.
With these developments, California appears poised for a second consecutive wet year, signaling a positive trend for water resources in the state. The abundance of snow in the Sierra Nevada region provides optimism for a bountiful runoff season in the months ahead.
