California water officials reported Tuesday that the April 1 snowpack is at 96% of average, six points higher than last week when the state released its initial seasonal report.
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) provided an update on Tuesday revealing that recent storms have helped bring California’s snowpack closer to average following a rough start to the snow season.
By the numbers: Following the same trend from throughout the 2024-2025 winter season, the northern section of the Sierra Nevada mountains continues to have the strongest snowpack in the state.
- The Northern Sierra region is at 118% of average, with the Central Sierra region following at 92% and the Southern Sierra region at 83%.
The big picture: This is the third straight year that the snowpack is close to 100% of average for April 1. That’s a run that hasn’t happened in nearly three decades.
Why it matters: The April 1 reading typically represents when California’s snowpack is at its greatest.
- State and federal water officials use the April 1 snowpack level to determine how much water to send to the Central Valley’s farmers, using water supply and snowmelt runoff forecasts.
- California’s snowpack provides around 30% of the state’s water needs on average, according to the California Department of Water Resources.
How the reservoirs look: Nearly all of California’s reservoirs are currently storing more water than they typically have at the start of April.
- Millerton and Castaic are the only reservoirs to be below average, although they are not far off at 96% and 94%, respectively.
- Shasta, California’s largest reservoir, is at 113% of average and 89% of its total capacity. Oroville is the next largest reservoir and is at 121% of the historical average and 88% of its total capacity.
What they’re saying: “Earlier on, there were some indicators that we might have a dry year, but fortunately the storm windows have stayed open and given us a good boost in February and March,” said DWR snow surveys manager Andy Reising.
