SACRAMENTO – (INT) – In spite of a brief uptick in temperatures during April, the Sierra snowpack is very much in evidence.

A snow survey taken Monday May 1st utilizing 130 snow sensors placed throughout the state put the snowpack at 254 percent of average for early May.

There is usually little snow in the Sierra this time of year. But, when comparing April 1st measurements, only three previous years dating back to 1952 were above 200 percent.

Department of Water Resources Director DWR Director Karla Nemeth predicts “The snowpack will not disappear in one week or one month but will lead to sustained high flows across the San Joaquin and Tulare Basins over the next several months.”

The snowpack bodes well for the state’s water outlook, Nemeth said. Snow-melt provides about 30 percent of California’s water needs each year.

California will continue to face climate-driven challenges for moving and storing as much water as possible, she predicted.

Story Date: June 4, 2023