Shortening ski season: Sierra Nevada snowpack melting at 1% per day, officials say

"Officials on Monday said that snowpack is melting at 1% per day, and if this trend continues, the April 1st snowpack measurement in two weeks could be the 2nd lowest in history. California's water infrastructure and management rely on snowpack lasting much later into the season."

"A source at the mountain said 3 to 4 inches a day we're losing up there, and we're losing it fast. Get up there and get it now, because we don't know how much longer it's gonna last, and it's definitely going away fast, the snow."

"My experience going up there, this was like, a late-April look to it, very much so. It was great for our trip, because we walked into any restaurant, we walked into any bar, there was never a wait for anything. This season was a little rough, actually. It started out really slow; we didn't get snow till late."

Lake Tahoe faces severe snowpack depletion due to an ongoing heat wave, with snow melting at 1% per day and losing 3-4 inches daily. If this trend continues, the April 1st snowpack measurement could be the second-lowest on record. California's water infrastructure depends on prolonged snowpack, making this situation critical for drought and wildfire risk management later in the year. The early melt threatens ski season viability, with some skiers unable to reach their annual slope days. Tourism has slowed significantly, with restaurants and bars experiencing reduced traffic. Ski businesses report weak bookings and services, though some activity occurred during ski week.

Read at ABC7 San Francisco