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6h ago

California’s First Snow Survey Finds Snowpack at 71% of Average

Officials say January through March will determine whether levels reach the April benchmark.

Residents of Donner Lake dig out in Truckee after a late-December storm. State officials said Tuesday state snowpack measured 71% of average for this time of year.
The California Department of Water Resources measured the state’s snowpack on Dec. 30, 2025. 
Researchers measure the snowpack at the Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada in California on Dec. 30, 2025.
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Overview

  • The Phillips Station survey measured 24 inches of snow with 5 inches of water content, about 50% of the site’s average.
  • DWR’s network shows statewide snow water equivalent at 71% of the date’s average, with the Northern Sierra near 51%, Central 72% and Southern 94%.
  • Major reservoirs are about 123% of average for late December, providing a buffer as the season progresses.
  • Mountain snowmelt typically supplies roughly one-third of California’s annual water, underscoring the importance of winter accumulation.
  • A colder storm is expected later this week, and the next manual snow survey is tentatively set for Feb. 3.