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Sierra snow survey reveals alarming results for water supply
- On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, the California Department of Water Resources recorded no measurable snow at Phillips Station, with statewide snowpack falling to just 18% of average.
- Record-High temperatures and high-elevation rain throughout March caused the snowpack to melt months ahead of schedule, officials called a 'stark indicator' of volatile precipitation patterns.
- Despite the low snowpack, most of California's large reservoirs remain near capacity due to rain and snow from the past three years, providing a temporary buffer.
- DWR Director Karla Nemeth warned the state must manage existing supplies carefully for the next six months, as without melting snow, reservoirs cannot be replenished.
- Climate experts predict warming trends will continue shifting peak snowmelt earlier, making future water security dependent on retrofitting aging systems to handle fewer, warmer storms.
17 Articles
17 Articles
California's snowpack could be second-lowest on record after record heat in March
By Brandon Downs California’s snowpack could be the second-lowest on record after a hot March, state water officials said on Wednesday. The California Department of Water Resources conducted a snow survey on Wednesday at Phillips Station in El Dorado County, finding there was no measurable snow after record temperatures in March melted this year’s snowpack months ahead of schedule. Water officials said Wednesday’s findings mark the second-lowes…
CA snowpack at 18% of historical average after record hot March melts snow early
After a March that felt more like a July, the California Department of Water Resources recorded the second lowest snowpack measurement at Phillip's Station. They measured zero inches of water content and zero inches of depth for zero-percent of average.
Times of San Diego
StocktoniaRecord March heat leaves California snowpack at just 18% of average
A scattering of snow at Phillips Station on April 1, 2026. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Water Resources) The final official snow survey of the year finds the California snowpack at just 18% of average thanks to record heat in March. “It feels like we skipped spring this year and dropped straight into a summer heatwave,” said Karla Nemeth, director of the Department of Water Resources. “What should be gradual snowmelt happened suddenly we…
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