California’s Snowfall Remains Low Despite Strong Rainfall

PHILLIPS STATION, Calif. — While California’s reservoirs are filled with rainwater, snowfall has significantly dropped. Officials reported on Tuesday that current snow levels are approximately half of what they were last year, and it’s still too soon to determine the impact on next year’s water supply.

At Phillips Station, located in the Sierra Nevada mountains, the snow depth reached 24 inches. Angelique Fabbiani-Leon, a hydrometeorologist from the Department of Water Resources, indicated that the snowpack’s moisture content stands at just 50% of the average for this time of year and 21% of the usual amount expected by April 1, when snowfall typically peaks.

According to David Lizard, manager of the hydrology division, this year’s measurements reflect a similar trend: “We’re seeing more rain than snow right now. Hopefully, we’ll see more snowfall by April to get closer to normal levels.”

This is the first of several seasonal measurements at Phillips Station, which had been snowless until recent storms brought some accumulation. The state is gathering electronic data from various sites, reporting that the total snowfall is currently at 71% of the average.

The snowpack is crucial since it serves as a large, natural reservoir. Each spring, as it melts, the water flows into rivers and streams, fulfilling about a third of California’s annual water usage. The state has developed extensive canals and dam systems to capture and store this water for the dry summer months when precipitation is scarce.

Reservoir water levels are currently at 123% of what’s typical for this time of year, Lizard noted.

These measurements are particularly significant for California, home to 39 million residents and a major producer of the nation’s fresh produce. The condition of the snowpack will be key in determining if the state can adequately supply water to both agricultural and urban areas during the hot summer.

Last year, snowpack moisture content was recorded at 91% of the average. Prior to its April peak in 2025, the state’s snowpack was near the expected levels, and reservoirs had surpassed historic storage limits thanks to two consecutive rainy winters, following years of drought that necessitated substantial cutbacks in water use.