A recent blizzard in California has pushed snowpack levels above average for the first time this year, providing a welcome relief before the return of hot and dry weather.
Experts warn that excess snow could be washed away by a warm rainstorm, and even a few points above average snow levels won't solve long-term problems.
California, a state with a population of 40 million and a $50 billion agricultural sector, closely monitors Sierra Nevada snowpack for future water supplies.
The state is on track for a second consecutive wet year after experiencing a historic drought for much of this century.
Rainfall recharges aquifers, improves fish habitat, and eases farmer constraints, while temporarily preventing fires, but also encourages vegetation growth that may fuel future wildfires.
Heather Cooley, director of research at the Pacific Institute, noted that the snowfall in January was starkly different from the previous year, indicating that while there is progress in eradicating over extraction from dry years, more work is needed.
Climate change is increasing drought frequency and intensity, necessitating policy-makers to prioritize projects like water recycling, stormwater capture, and floodplain restoration for long-term supplies.
Cooley stated that we cannot be distracted by one or two good years.
California Department of Water Resources reports that snow levels are at 104% of average, with the northern region at 111% and the south at 94%. However, water managers prioritize snowpack measurements as of April 1, with the current level only 94% of the April 1 average.
The recent blizzard was an outlier from this year's warm, rainy weather, and another warm rainstorm could increase flood risk by washing away much of the reserve.
Justin Collins, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Reno, warned against the possibility of a warm, wet storm causing flooding and snow melt simultaneously, stating that such a scenario is undesirable.
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