The statewide Sierra Nevada snowpack is at 90% of average for this date, though precipitation levels in Southern California have been far lower than those in the northern part of the state, the California Department of Water Resources announced.
The department conducted its monthly manual snowpack measurement Friday at Phillips Station in El Dorado County, about 90 miles east of Sacramento. The survey determined that location had snow levels at about 70% of average, but it is combined with 260 other locations for the statewide measurement.
The survey helps California determine the state’s water supply forecast for the rest of the year. That supply might increase due to the likelihood this week of stormy weather that prompted DWR to move its monthly measurement up by a few days to Friday.
Still, the Southern California region is well behind Northern California for precipitation, including the Los Angeles region that has only received about 45% of its average rainfall so far, according to the department.
“The north has great snowpack, but snowpack is less than average in the central and southern part of the mountain range. That snowpack ultimately flows to the Delta, and the regional disparity affects how much water the State Water Project will be able to deliver,” DWR director Karla Nemeth said in a statement, referring to the collection of aqueducts and reservoirs that distribute water around the state.
The state’s snowpack generally supplies about 30% of California’s annual water needs. DWR officials on Friday said that thanks to efforts to capture as much water as possible from storms earlier this year, reservoirs across the state are at 115% of average.
More details on California’s water conditions can be found on the DWR website.