The Sierra Nevada snowpack, which is a critical water source for California, has fallen to a 500-year low, much worse than experts had estimated, which will cause further alarm for an area that is already suffering from four years of drought. California relies on almost all of its precipitation in the winter months, as come April, when the snow melts, the water flows into streams and reservoirs to prepare for the warm months ahead. The snow accumulation in the mountains, however, was 30% of what is normal, which will inflate the risks of wildfires, dry up wells, instigate water rationing and affect agriculture.
The Sierra Nevada snowpack, which is a critical water source for California, has fallen to a 500-year low, much worse than experts had estimated, which will cause further alarm for an area that is already suffering from four years of drought. California relies on almost all of its precipitation in the winter months, as come April, when the snow melts, the water flows into streams and reservoirs to prepare for the warm months ahead. The snow accumulation in the mountains, however, was only 5% of what is normal, which will inflate the risks of wildfires, dry up wells, instigate water rationing and affect agriculture.