"The extremely rapid loss of the snow that fell during the late Feb storm cycle, which in many cases dropped multiple feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada over just a couple of days, is genuinely remarkable. In less than 10 days, the snow receded significantly amid a heat wave that sent temperatures 15 to 20 degrees above normal in much of the state."
"California relies on the Sierra snowpack for about 30% of its water. But extreme warmth across the West this winter has meant more precipitation falling as rain, not snow - a symptom of global warming, experts say, which in recent years has been pushing average snow lines higher in the mountains and changing the timing of runoff."
"Swain noted that there is still significant moisture in California's mountains, but the diminished snowpack will likely affect the state's water supply and wildfire risk later this summer. The very early loss of snowpack will have cascading effects on water availability and fire conditions."
A severe winter heat wave in late February and early March caused dramatic snowpack loss across California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Satellite imagery shows snow that accumulated over multiple days during late February storms nearly disappeared within ten days as temperatures soared 15-20 degrees above normal. The northern Sierra currently measures 38% of average snowpack while the southern Sierra stands at 83% of average, down from 98% of normal just weeks earlier. California depends on Sierra snowpack for approximately 30% of its water supply. Climate experts attribute the accelerated melting to global warming, which has elevated snow lines and altered precipitation patterns, with more rain falling instead of snow. Continued above-average temperatures threaten further snowpack reduction and may impact summer water availability and wildfire risk.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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