The heat dome that settled over California, broke records, and scorched most of California last week is creeping eastward, with some temperature relief in sight. In the meantime, temperatures across the Golden State will remain slightly above average into April. … Weather experts say the state’s snowpack was reported below normal, with less than 50% of the average across much of Northern California. … California’s reservoirs are in good shape, above historic averages, with many nearing capacity. But that summertime snowbank on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada is disappearing early and fast, dropping to 38% of average for mid-March statewide. 

Other snowmelt and heat wave news around the West:

• Colorado Public Radio: As the West’s scant snowpack melts, Coloradans brace for a lean water year
• Vail Daily (Colo.): Vail Mountain snowpack reaches new low of 40% below previous record
• Wyoming Tribune Eagle (Cheyenne): Record 83-degree heat, 2-foot snowfall deficit put Cheyenne officials on alert
• NBC4 (Reno, Nev.): Nevada sees warm snow drought; as cloud seeding helps boost precipitation
• CapRadio (Sacramento, Calif.): What are the impacts of California’s unseasonably hot March?
• San Francisco Chronicle: Satellite images show how fast California’s snowpack is disappearing
• Truthout: Climate-fueled heat waves are creating a water crisis in the Southwest