The 2024 water year in California got off to a slow start, with little precipitation through January. According to data from the Central Sierra Snow Lab (CSSL), the state measured only 21% of its average snowpack at the January snow surveys. However, a shift in weather patterns soon brought more precipitation, resulting in a significant recovery by April 1, when the statewide snow water equivalent (SWE) reached 106% of the average, officially classifying it as a wet year.
At the CSSL, the year ended with 108% of the median snowfall and 95% of the total precipitation, combining both rain and snow. This marks the second consecutive wet year for the state, providing much-needed water to replenish reservoirs and support agricultural needs.
The lab has now made its data for the entire water year, spanning October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024, publicly available. This data includes daily temperature records, automated and manual precipitation and snowfall measurements, and a range of interesting statistics on precipitation and snowfall amounts.
For a closer look at the numbers and trends from this year’s water cycle, the Snow Lab encourages interested parties to review the full dataset.
