It is a “vastly different” first look at California’s snowpack. Scientists at the Sierra Central Snow Lab in Soda Springs say it’s “too early to determine” what kind of water year 2024 will be.
Yesterday, the Berkeley Snow Lab conducted its inaugural snow survey of the season. Sean de Guzman, the Manager of DWR’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit, presented the results. The manual survey recorded 7.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 3 inches, which is 30 percent of the average for this location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. Statewide, the snowpack is 25 percent of the average for this date.
In the previous year, the snowpack had reached historic levels, with scientists standing amidst approximately 5 feet of snow at the lab and across the state, already surpassing more than half of the yearly total.
This year, to obtain a precise snowpack measurement, collectors had to amass multiple bulk samples to determine the depth.
De Guzman emphasized that the region navigates a fine line between wet and dry water years. He added that while “the recent storms provided a modest boost to the snowpack, the dry fall and below-average conditions … highlight how rapidly water conditions can change.” The Department of Water Resources is gearing up for both scenarios, addressing potential flooding concerns or the potential return to extreme drought conditions.
However, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center, forecasters suggest that a few upcoming snowstorm systems may steer conditions in the right direction.
The next snow survey is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, February 1st.
