One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Crucial Sierra Nevada Snowpack Has Reached 100%
Snow blankets the Sierra Nevada mountains on February 23, 2024 near Mammoth Lakes, California.
(
Mario Tama/Getty Images
/
Getty Images North America
)
Topline:
This year's rainy season started off warm and dry, but after a series of big storms, Sierra Nevada snowpack has reached 100% of the April 1 average. That's important because all that snow is a huge source of water for us and our landscapes.
The caveat: Even though we have an average snowpack, it’s possible we won’t see an average amount of runoff according to the California Department of Water Resources, in part, as a result of hotter than average temperatures causing greater evaporation.
The good news: Our reservoirs are sitting pretty, so we’ve got a lot of water stored going into the hot months.
What to watch for: Hot and dry weather showing up and stretching into next year's rainy season could put us in water trouble yet again.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
