CA Snowpack Sees Big Boost From Recent SoCal Storms

CALIFORNIA — A pair of atmospheric rivers that dumped more than a foot of rain over parts of SoCal and knocked out power for hundreds of thousands across the Golden State proved beneficial for California's struggling snowpack.

According to researchers at the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab, California's statewide snow water equivalent surged by 23 percent in the last week, growing from 52 percent to 75 percent. The Northern Sierra fared best, reaching 83 percent, followed by the Central Sierra at 75 percent and Southern Sierra at 69 percent.

At the lab's Donner Pass facility, researchers said more than 30 inches of fresh snow fell since Sunday, for a total of 55.7 inches recorded in just one week. On Mammoth Mountain, 46 inches of of fresh snow over 72 hours.

According to the Los Angeles Times, more than 30 inches of snow had fallen at Mountain High as of Wednesday morning, followed by 2 feet at Mount Baldy, 18 inches at Snow Valley and 10 inches at Wrightwood. Big Bear Mountain is reporting a base depth of 50 inches with another 26 inches of fresh powder over the last 24 hours. Another few inches of snow were in the forecast through Thursday afternoon.

Blizzardlike conditions reigned overnight Wednesday in the local mountains. Between 10 and 26 inches of snow was expected at elevations above 7,000 feet, and 5 to 8 inches at elevations between 6,000 and 7,000 feet.

The recent storms helped build on January's progress to overcome an unexpectedly meager snowpack this winter. The Department of Water Resources completed its second snow survey of the season at the end of last month, finding a 28 percent improvement since January 1 but noting conditions remained well below average. By contrast, the statewide snowpack was 214 percent at the beginning of last February.

Climatologists said one reason for the disparity is that unlike last year, when precipitation was above average and temperatures ran below average, this winter's storms have trended warmer.

"Despite strong El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean, a high-pressure system and several other climate factors have led to below average conditions so far and most storm impacts have been focused along the coastal regions,” said Dr. Michael Anderson, State Climatologist with DWR. “Many of these storms have also been warmer than average and produced more rain and less snow, a far cry from last year’s near-record snowpack and once again demonstrating how California can swing from one extreme to another.”

As KCRA reports, despite recent boons, the snowpack still needs considerable help. The snowpack's water content sits at less than half of the April 1 average — a measure researchers use as the benchmark for when the snowpack is typically at its highest.

On the positive side, ABC 10 notes last year's historically wet winter has helped keep state reservoirs in relatively good shape, with Lake Shasta, Lake Oroville and Folsom Lake each at 125 to 130 percent of average as of Monday.

In the near term, the National Weather Service is tracking a weaker system that could bring moderate snowfall in the mountains Wednesday into Thursday, with 4 to 8 inches possible for elevations above 4,500 feet.