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2w ago

April Survey Finds California Snowpack Near Record Low as Utah Sets Worst on Record

Record warmth drove an early melt that will test California’s summer water supply.

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Record heat is melting the Sierra Nevada snowpack at a fast pace as viewed along the mountains at Convict Lake on March 19, 2026 near Mammoth Lakes, California.
The Pit River Bridge stretches over a drying section of Shasta Lake in Lakehead, California on October 16, 2022. - Shasta Lake currently sits at 32% of its capacity as drought conditions persist throughout the west. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Overview

  • California’s April 1 Sierra survey, conducted Wednesday, found no measurable snow at Phillips Station and a statewide snowpack near 18% of average, with the Northern Sierra around 6%.
  • The low reading followed a record-warm March that turned many storms to rain and triggered an early, rapid melt, raising wildfire risk by lengthening the dry season.
  • Major reservoirs like Shasta and Oroville remain near or above historical levels for early April, and state officials say no emergency conservation mandates are planned.
  • Local water agencies in the Bay Area report healthy storage and groundwater for now, yet warn reduced spring runoff could mean heavier reliance on reserves if next year is dry.
  • In Utah, federal hydrologists reported a “truly unprecedented” April snowpack at roughly 2.7 inches of snow water equivalent, and experts expect water restrictions to spread later this year.