SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Recent storms in the Sierra have helped with the snowpack and water supply as we get ready for the warmer months ahead.
Most places in the Sierra picked up between 2 and 4 feet of snow in early April after a series of cold storms delivered much needed moisture to the mountains. This follows the most recent snow survey before the storms by the California Department of Water Resources which recorded more than 60% of average snowpack at its traditional location. However, statewide the results were a little more than 50% of average.
Now, after the April storms, the statewide average is close to 61%. Traditionally, storms in spring start to slow down and only provide scattered and lighter snow, not adding much to the snowpack.
On another positive note, the latest storm in the Sierra set a snowfall record for the date at Reno-Tahoe International Airport. The National Weather Service says the 1.3 inches of snow recorded Monday tripled the old record of .4 inch set on April 6, 1982. The late season storm dumped more than a foot of snow around Lake Tahoe and nearly 3 feet in the southern Sierra at the Mammoth Mountain resort south of Yosemite National Park. More than 2 inches of snow fell in northwest Reno and up to 5 inches in northeast Sparks. Reno's high is forecast to reach 70 by Friday.
The water year for 2019-2020 will likely go down as below average for water supply. But, previous two rain seasons saw ample rain and snow captured in reservoirs across the state.
It's too soon to say how much the reservoirs will come up during the melting season, but reservoirs will work to retain as much water as possible during the spring. During the winter, reservoirs are mostly needed for flood protection.
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