Record March heat leaves California snowpack at just 18% of average

The final official snow survey of the year finds the California snowpack at just 18% of average thanks to record heat in March.

“It feels like we skipped spring this year and dropped straight into a summer heatwave,” said Karla Nemeth, director of the Department of Water Resources. “What should be gradual snowmelt happened suddenly weeks ago.”

The department found no measurable snow on Wednesday during its traditional, once-a-month manual survey at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe. The 18% statewide average is from automated measuring stations.

Offrcials said the combination of warm storms and unusually hot temperatures rapidly melted what remained of this year’s already sparse snowpack. Preliminary data indicates the snowpack is the second lowest on record for April 1.

“We’re seeing fewer, warmer storms and shorter wet seasons,” said Nemeth. “Future water supplies will depend upon our ability to capture water when it’s available and manage it more efficiently.”

Although some additional snow is forecast to arrive in the coming days, it is not likely to make up for the rapid snowmelt. 

Despite the low snowpack, most of California’s large reservoirs have more than the average level of water as of March 31, according the the department, because of rain and snow in past years.

California’s snowpack supplies about 30% of the state’s water needs. Its natural ability to store water is why the snowpack is often referred to as California’s “frozen reservoir.”