Snowpack Research Paper

Due to a series of snowstorms that hit Sierra Nevada recently, the snowpack is higher than the average for this time of the year. This is a milestone for California, who has been in a severe drought for the past year. The storms have increased the snowpack levels of the mountain that hasn’t been seen in two years in California.

Although the announcement of this seems horrible to some, it is welcoming news to California due to the dry conditions California has been in for the past four years. However, even with the higher levels of snow the drought is said to be far from over.

The snowpack is 111% of average of the date statewide; northern Sierra it is 116% of normal; in the central part of Sierra is it of 121% of average and finally in the southern Sierra it is 85% of normal. “We are above average and that's a very good thing,” Steve Nemeth, a water supply forecaster for the state Department of Water Resources. said, adding a note of caution. “We've been fooled before on an above-average December,” with disappointing sequels. When compared to of last years the statewide snowpack was a little more than half the average, which meant bare Sierra slopes for their winter. It was key that they had a good snowpack since snow in these areas are a key source of water for the state.

Snowfall began earlier this year around November, and covered a wider area than usual instead of appearing in higher elevations.

However Apr. 1 is the important day of when snowpack reaches its peak, which provides California with a third of their water supply. According to Eric Kurth, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, the snow comes from multiple cold storm systems that originate from the Gulf of Alaska. “We've got snowstorms on top of other snowstorms, which has helped accumulate snowpack,” Kurth

said.

Recently, a storm had deposited three feet of snow in certain mountain areas, and another cold system. Although the snowpack is above average, the moisture level didn’t. Last year Northern California had received 23 inches this year, but only 15.6 inches this year. However, Southern California has had recent storms that brought gusty winds, high tides and rain.

Another weather difficulty appearing this year would be the strong winds. The winds would be strong enough to blow down trees and power lines, which would cause driving problems and also would reduce visibility in desert areas. Another problem with the winds would be what it does to the ocean. Strong winds cause rip currents and high surf along the Central Coast beaches, and will also cause small floods in low-elevation areas. The storms are a preview of an El Niño weather system expected to hit by the end of January. However, it is expected to bring heavy rains to California. The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center said that El Niño is to be one of the strongest on record.

Reviewing California’s recent weather changes, the storms are proved to be more beneficial than against the effort of California’s drought.