California Snowpack Below Average as Winter Nears End

State water officials report snowpack at 85% of average, with regional disparities and warmer temperatures shaping concerns for water supplies.

California's Sierra Nevada snowpack, which supplies nearly a third of the state's water, is at 85% of the historical average for this time of year.
Regional variations show the northern Sierra snowpack at 106% of average, while the central and southern Sierra lag at 81% and 69%, respectively.
Above-average temperatures this winter have caused more precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow, particularly at lower elevations, a trend linked to climate change.
Despite concerns over snowpack, California's reservoirs are well above average levels due to two prior wet years and recent atmospheric river storms.
Officials expect more storms in early March, which could improve snowpack levels, though the disparity between northern and southern regions may persist.