Wednesday Top of the Scroll: California winter storm brings Sierra snow pack to 10-year-high
After three years of drought, California is beginning 2023 with more snow on the ground than at any start to a year in a decade. State water officials trekked into the Sierra Nevada to conduct the first snow survey of the winter season on Tuesday, reporting 174% of average statewide snowpack for the date. The reams of powder come amid a series of storms that is blasting Northern California and has piled snow onto banks up to 16 feet high at major highway passes through the mountains. Some ski resorts count 18 feet of snow on the slopes. Although responsible for significant flooding, mudslides and even fatalities, the wet weather in recent weeks has been good for drought relief.
Related articles:
- Sacramento Bee: California snow survey finds ‘terrific’ start to season. Why drought concerns persist
- KRCR – Redding: ‘Our snowpack is actually off to one of its best starts in the past 40 years,’ DWR says
- Los Angeles Times: California snowpack is far above average amid January storms, but a lot more is needed
- CA Department of Water Resources: Snow Survey Shows December Storms Provided Big Snow Totals with More Systems, Flooding in Forecast
- CBS – Los Angeles: Recent rain, snow leaves experts cautiously optimistic about drought relief
- Record Searchlight: California storms - Lake Shasta 34% full could see water level rise way up