Storms bring California's Sierra snowpack to normal

The California Department of Water Resources said January storms raised the vital Sierra Nevada snowpack to normal for this time of year, an important development for California's water supply. The snowpack was 100 percent of average to date. The statement was made after the second survey of the winter.

Water resources engineer John King who conducted a manual survey of a snow course at Phillips Station, one of hundreds of locations measured says "this is a significant increase since the last survey." At the site, the snow depth measured 50 inches with a snow-water equivalent of 18 inches. That's 98 percent of average to date at the location.

On Feb. 1, 2018, Phillips Station had a snow-water equivalent of only 14 percent of average.

When the Sierra Nevada snowpack melts in spring and summer it provides about 30 percent of California's water needs. Persistent drought has also dried out trees and brush, contributing to severe wildfires.