Little snow in California and the West as a warm winter nears end

"We're ahead of where we were last month, but still way behind where we would hope to be. I fell into a stream this morning because of the water that's flowing under the snowpack. 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."

"California's snow season typically peaks around April 1. Although much of it hasn't fallen as snow, California has seen above-average precipitation this winter. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor website, no part of California is currently experiencing drought conditions. But across 11 western states, 45% of the region is in at least a moderate drought."

California's Sierra Nevada snowpack stands at 66% of average for this time of year following February storms, though conditions have improved from the previous month. Record warmth across the West has caused most precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow, a symptom of climate change pushing snowlines higher and altering runoff timing. The northern Sierra is at 46% of average while the southern Sierra reaches 90%. California typically relies on the snowpack for 30% of its water supply. Despite above-average precipitation this winter, California currently has no drought conditions. However, across 11 western states, 45% of the region faces at least moderate drought, with the Upper Colorado River Basin snowpack at 66% of average, threatening critically low reservoir levels.

Read at Los Angeles Times