California Department of Water Resources staff (from left) Angelique Fabbiani-Leon, State Hydrometeorologist, Manon von Kaenel, Water Resources Engineer, Jordan Thoennes, Water Resources Engineer, and Andy Reising, Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit Manager, conduct the first media snow survey of the 2025 season at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada. The survey is held approximately 90 miles east of Sacramento off Highway 50 in El Dorado County. Photo taken January 2, 2025. (Nick Shockey / California Department of Water Resources)

Despite above-average snow levels in Northern California, the southern region lags behind. 

By Natalie Willis, Reporter, Valley Ag Voice 

The California Department of Water Resources conducted its first snow survey of the season on Jan. 2 at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada, recording 24 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of nine inches — 91% of average for this date and location.  

Andy Reising, Manager of DWR’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit, explained that these surveys, conducted with the help of 50 cooperating agencies across the state, provide a more accurate forecast of water supply for the summer. 

This year, there has been a significant gradient in the amount of precipitation in California from north to south, with the northern region above 160% of average where the 80 corridor received a significant amount of snow from atmospheric rivers. 

“It was less and less as we moved south through the state, so the central Sierra region is about right just below average right now and the Southern Sierra is about 75% of average,” Reising said.  

Recent water years in California have been marked by extremely hot, dry conditions, broken up by periods of intense rain and snow, with this year following that same pattern. According to DWR, a record-breaking hot and dry summer persisted into the fall, and while Northern California reaped the benefits of an atmospheric river in November and a series of storms in late December, that fortune has not extended to the southern region of the state.  

“Because of that gradient, I mean we’re doing great in the northern half. We’ve had that big atmospheric river series of storms in November and a few others in December so that’s a great start for the north, but the south is definitely under average…If we don’t get more storms, we’ll need a progression of monthly storms to keep going because otherwise, we will end up maybe similar under average by the end of the year,” Reising said. “So, feeling good today but we need to see some more storms come.” 

Reising also pointed to the potential of a La Niña wherein winter temperatures are warmer than average in the south and cooler than average in the north. The last La Niña event began in 2020 and ended in early 2023. 

Current electronic readings from 130 stations throughout the Sierra Nevada indicate that the statewide snowpack’s snow water equivalent is 10.7 inches, or 108% of average compared to 28% last year.  

However, DWR pointed back to similar patterns in 2013 and 2022 where the January snowpack was well above average, but dry conditions took over the rest of the winter, effectively erasing the early-season snow totals and prolonging existing drought conditions statewide. 

“While our snowpack looks good now, we have a long way until April when our water supply picture will be more complete,” DWR Director Karla Nemeth said in a press release. “Extreme shifts between dry and wet conditions are continuing this winter, and if the past several years are any indication, anything could happen between now and April, and we need to be prepared.” 

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