ORLANDO, Fla. – It has been a winter to remember for the West Coast. California started the winter with nearly all of the state in drought status according to the United States Department Of Agriculture.
The late November update also showed more than 12% of the state was in extreme drought status. The weather pattern then turned extremely active for the west as 2023 began with series of weather events known as atmospheric rivers. Unfortunately, the storms turned deadly in early January.
By the Jan 10 update, less than 1% of the state was in extreme drought status.
The most recent drought monitor, released Mar. 2, shows parts of California completely drought free.
This was after a historic storm that brought up to 15 feet of snow to parts of the Sierra Nevada mountains including Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite has experienced significant snowfall in all areas of the park, with snow up to 15 feet deep in some areas and the park’s closure on Feb. 25. Park crews are working to restore critical services so visitors can safely return. There is no estimated date for reopening. pic.twitter.com/JE7E4SKWuq
— Yosemite National Park (@YosemiteNPS) March 1, 2023
This was the same storm that promoted and extremely rare blizzard warning for the mountains outside of Los Angeles. The relentless nature of the storms has the state just behind record snowpack numbers.
Although the statewide snowpack is currently just behind the record snow year of 1982-83, the snowpack varies considerably by region. The Southern Sierra snowpack is currently 209% of its April 1 average while the Northern Sierra, is at just 136% of its April 1 average. pic.twitter.com/rK6c6onC9O
— CA - DWR (@CA_DWR) March 3, 2023
The California Department of Water Resources also noted that it will take more than one good year to fully replenish the state’s groundwater basins. Another major storm is set to deliver additional feet of snow to the mountains through the first week of March.
This will continue to help depleted reservoirs in the region once the snow melts in the warmer months ahead.