SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Feb. 1 edition of the DWR Phillips Station snowpack survey brought good news to a state desperate to avoid a fourth year of drought.
The current depth of the snowpack at the survey site, which is one of more than 260 snow survey sites across California and located on Highway 50 near Sierra-at-Tahoe, sits at 85.5". This equates to a snow water content of 33.5".
Snow water content is the depth of water that would cover the ground if snow cover was in a liquid state, according to the National Weather Service.
The percent average to date is 193% while the April 1 average is at 137%.
"We always use that April 1 snow metric because in terms of snow water content, that's usually when we see our peak annual snowpack," said Sean de Guzman with the DWR.
This falls slightly behind the statewide number of 205% found using an automated snow sensor network. The snowpack at the Phillips location is located in the American River watershed, therefore contributing to the filling up of Folsom Lake during the spring and early summer snowmelt.
"Our snowpack is off to an incredible start and it is exactly what California needs to help break from the ongoing drought," said de Guzman. "We are actually currently outpacing 1982-83, which is our wettest year on record dating back about 40 years."
California has been in a bit of a dry stretch since the series of nine atmospheric rivers. More snow is expected this weekend across the Sierra, with 8-18" and up to two feet expected in the highest elevations.
