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The Sierra Nevada snowpack has hit one of its lowest levels for the end of winter in 70 years, SwiftTelecast reports. The snowpack is the source of 30% of California's water supply and has been stressed by dry weather and high temperatures.
State water officials conducted a snow survey for Friday, April 1, near the Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort and found that snow levels were just 39% of normal. On April 1st of last year, the snowpack was 62% normal. Experts say the reading suggests the state's three-year drought is getting more severe.
“There was so much fanfare in December about the drought being over,” Andrew Schwartz, lead scientist at the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Laboratory told the website. “We had a record-breaking December and have gotten very little if anything since.”
“We’ve still got some snow up here,” he continued “It’s not barren. But it has definitely started melting. We’ve lost about a foot in the last week. We’re starting to see bigger patches of soil.”
Since 1950, there have only been fives time there has been less snow than this year:
- 2015 - 5% of normal
- 2014 - 25% of normal
- 1988 - 29% of normal
- 1977 - 25% of normal
- 1976 - 37% of normal
To read the full report, click here.