SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The April edition of the monthly snow survey conducted at Phillips Station brought more good news in what was a drought busting winter.
The results from Monday's snow survey showed a depth of 126.5" and a snow water content of 54", resulting in 221% of the April 1 average at the Phillips Station, located near Sierra-at-Tahoe.
There are more than 260 stations across the Sierra operating in conjunction to give an average for the Northern, Central and Southern Sierra, along with a statewide total.
The Southern Sierra has been disproportionately hammered with snow this winter and now has over 3x the average snowpack. To put it another way, over three years worth of snow is currently sitting in the Southern Sierra.
Statewide, the snowpack is at 237% of average. Only three years dating back to 1910 had over 200% of average by April 1 — 1952, 1969 and 1983, according to DWR.
The snowpack hasn't been this large since the mid-80s and is likely to be either the 1st or 2nd largest snowpack dating back to 1950.
With warmer temperatures on the horizon, flooding will be a major concern as the snowpack begins to melt, especially in the San Joaquin Valley and Tulare lake basin.
"We are currently forecasting record breaking spring snowmelt," said Sean de Guzman with the DWR.
Statewide reservoir storage is at 107% of average and this number will only continue to rise with the incoming snowmelt.
"We are very, very fortunate to be sitting at over 100% of average in our major reservoirs across the state," said Karla Nemeth, director of DWR. "What is important about the cooler temperatures that we have had is that the snowmelt is going to feed those reservoirs throughout the spring and summer."
