The exceptionally wet spring brought with it record levels of rain and snow for the month of May. Storm systems that touched the Sierra Nevada’s brought enough snow to allow major ski resorts to remain open, with Mammoth Mountain predicting snow activities to be available until August.
The last time that California’s snowpack was as large as it was heading into June this year, was back in 2011 when it was more than 300 percent of the average. According to information from the California Department of Water Resources, the state’s snowpack measured 190 percent of the average as of June 6. The average snow water equivalent sits at 12.8 inches, after topping for a season high of 45.4 inches at the end of March. Over the past ten years, the snowpack had typically diminished almost entirely by the time that June began. For example, this time last year saw a snowpack that was just 4 percent of the average.
Even with a substantial snowpack remaining, the majority of California’s biggest reservoirs are already well above average. Millerton and San Luis are the only two that are not at least 100 percent of average, sitting at 97 percent and 99 percent respectively. Many of the 12 major reservoirs are also nearing their capacity, with seven of them measuring above 90 percent.
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