The Department of Water Resources conducted the first snow survey of the season for California on Thursday.
They conduct the survey manually every year, and this year they recorded 24 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 9 inches, which is 91% of average for January 2nd at the Phillips Station.
They've been measuring at the Phillips Station since 1941. The station is one of 260.
DWR's electronic readings from 130 stations placed throughout the Sierra Nevada indicate that the statewide snowpack's snow water equivalent is 10.7 inches, or 108% of average compared to 28% on the same date last year.
Andy Rising, the Manger of DWR Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit tells us more statistics from the measurement.
“In comparison our snowpack is about 110% average to date based of our automated snow sensor network statewide," he said. "And statewide precipitation is about 115% of average right now.”
They say snow, specifically right now for the northern region, is above 160%, while the Central Sierra region is right below average, and the southern Sierra region is about 75% of average, which they say is a big difference throughout the state.
“Recent water years have showed how quickly conditions can change," said Rising. "On this date last year California started slowly with a very dry fall, the statewide snowpack only measured 28% of average last year so we’re at 91% of average but only 28% last year. Yet we ended the year with a slightly above average snowpack.”
He says right now we're doing ok, but if we don't see any more storms we're going to need more throughout the months ahead to keep going. Otherwise we could end up under average at the end of the year.
“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, and with the La Nina potential to become a La Nina here shortly, that could indicate a continuation of that trend of a drier south.”
He also spoke on why they hold snow surveys.
“Many agencies saw the benefits of measuring the snow so they could more accurately predict the water supply they’ll have in the summer months when we don’t have nearly as much rain," he said. "Our snowpack is a big part of our water supply.”
Rising says we need to build our water supply each year to get the water we need.
“Feeling good today but we need to see more storms come,” he said.
The snow survey for the Nevada region is to be held next month.
