In a remarkable turn of events, the Sierra Nevada mountain range experienced a sudden surge in snowpack, with 26+ inches of snowfall recorded in just one day. This unexpected event has brought the region’s snowpack to 113 percent of average for this time of year, providing a much-needed boost to California’s water supply.
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted its April snow survey, which revealed that the manual survey recorded 64 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 27.5 inches at Phillips Station. The snow water equivalent, a crucial measure of the amount of water contained in the snowpack, is a key component in DWR’s water supply forecasting.