After a very dry December, recent Sierra Nevada snowstorms have added snow to the slopes for holiday travelers, but the state’s water supply is still being closely monitored.
State officials say California is beginning 2026 with a snowpack well below average. Measurements at Phillips Station show snow water content at 50% of the normal level for this time of year and just 21% of the typical April 1 peak. While recent storms have boosted snow levels and more storms are expected, it is too early to predict how the state’s water supplies will fare this year.
The Sierra Nevada snowpack provides about one-third of California’s annual water supply, affecting cities, farms, and reservoirs statewide. Officials recorded a snow depth of 24 inches at Phillips Station, according to Angelique Fabbiani-Leon, state hydrometeorologist for the Department of Water Resources.
“The series of storms over the past week increased our snowpack significantly,” Fabbiani-Leon said, noting that it is still early in the season. The survey at Phillips Station was the first in a seasonal series of manual measurements, and electronic measurements at other sites show statewide snowpack at 71% of average.
The snowpack acts as a natural reservoir, melting each spring to feed rivers and streams. California’s canal and dam systems capture this water to supply the state during the dry summer months. Officials say major reservoirs are in good shape for this time of year.
About a year ago, Phillips Station recorded snow water content at 91% of average. In 2025, the state’s snowpack was near average just ahead of the April 1 peak, and reservoirs were above historic capacity following two wet winters after a prolonged drought.
While early-season storms have improved conditions, California will continue monitoring snowpack levels closely to gauge potential water supply challenges in the months ahead.
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