California's Northern Sierra Nevada Nearing All-Time Wettest 'Water Year'

Brian Donegan
Published: April 10,2017
California's northern Sierra Nevada is nearing its all-time wettest "water year" after the latest barrage of stormy weather to hit the mountain range late last week.

The "water year" in California runs from October through September, and in peaks from November through March. Each spring, the melted snowpack from the Sierra supplies water to much of California.
(MORE: The Most Billion-Dollar Weather Disasters on Record for a First Quarter)
As of Sunday, the northern Sierra was less than 1 inch of water below the record of 88.5 inches, set during the 1982-83 water year, with an accumulated average of 87.7 inches of water across eight stations since Oct. 1, according to the California Department of Water Resources.
This is 205 percent of average for April 9. An average water year has 50 inches of precipitation.
Oct. 1-March 31 was the wettest such period on record on record in Sacramento, California, South Lake Tahoe, California, and Reno, Nevada, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center. In the Northwest, this six-month period was also the wettest in Spokane, Washington, Pocatello, Idaho, Lewiston, Idaho, Kalispell, Montana, and Sheridan, Wyoming.
(MORE: Where Winter 2016-17 Ranked)
Typically, when April arrives, the chance of big storm systems bringing heavy rain and mountain snow decreases in California. However, given this near-record-wet water year, it likely comes as no surprise April's weather pattern is remaining active.
Last week's storm brought 10 to 40 inches of snow to the Sierra, and more rain and mountain snow are expected Tuesday through Thursday in the week ahead. This incoming system could provide enough precipitation to top the 1982-83 record-wet water year.
(MORE: 7-Day Rain/Snow Forecast)
The water content in the snowpack throughout much of the West remains well-above average. As of April 7, areas of the Sierra and western Nevada are more than 200 percent of average for the date, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service SNOTEL Network.
Sugar Bowl and Boreal ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe region have seen more than 700 inches of snow so far this wet season, from fall through early spring.
When examining snow-water equivalent for the northern, central and southern Sierra, all areas are more than 145 percent of average for April 7, ranging from 41 to 49 inches of water, according to the California Cooperative Snow Surveys.
Additionally, many reservoirs continue to run above average as of April 8, including Lake Oroville, Lake Shasta, San Luis Reservoir and Pyramid Lake.
This wet year's snowpack is quite a change from the past four years when drought prevailed across California, leaving residents with low water supplies and increased water-use restrictions.
(MORE: 8 Reasons Why Rain Is a Big Deal in Southern California)
Mount Shasta Ski Park, a small resort about 70 miles north of Redding, California, is typically open from mid-December through April. However, during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 ski seasons, it wasn't even able to open for a full month, Jason Young, a general manager for the park, told the Sacramento Bee.
This ski season opened at its normal time and anticipates remaining open through April. Mount Shasta Ski Park received 30 inches of fresh powder from last week's storm, according to its Facebook page.
on Friday

Change of plans. Our Mountain Ops team has reassessed the conditions of Coyote and are working hard to get the lift up and running for the public! They plan to open any minute!
Here's a picture of the sun peeking out for our Douglas lift at opening this morning ☀️❄️😎

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On Friday, California Gov. Jerry Brown announced an end to the drought but advised Californians to remain cautious about their water use, the Sacramento Bee reports. Brown warned that the state's groundwater supplies remain low in some areas, so residents are not allowed to hose off their sidewalks or water their lawns during or immediately after a rainfall.
(MORE: Spring Flood Outlook)