California is poised to have its third-driest year on record.
Thursday’s Phillips Station snowpack survey in the state's Sierra Nevada, the last of the measurements and typically the most important of the year, is further proof of that.
"Our statewide automated snow sensor network is reporting 59% of average to date," said Sean de Guzman, chief of snow surveys for the California Department of Water Resources.
Historically, April 1 is the date when the snowpack is deepest and has the highest water content.
De Guzman said that’s it with no more snow is expected this season.
"Statewide, California’s largest reservoirs are only storing about half of their total capacity," he said. "For 2021, California has received about 50% of average precipitation, which currently ties for third-driest year on record."
That doesn’t bode well for California's upcoming wildfire season.
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