In a much-needed break after multiple years of severe droughts over the past two decades, California’s statewide Sierra Nevada snowpack, which provides nearly one-third of the state’s water supply, was at 96% of its historical average on Tuesday, up from 83% a month before. The April 1 reading, considered the most important of the year by water managers because it comes at the end of the winter season, follows two previous years when the snowpack reached 111% of normal on April 1 last year and 237% in 2023. Although Tuesday fell just short of a third year in a row above 100%, together the past three years represent most bountiful three-year period for the Sierra snowpack in 25 years. The last time there was this much snow three years in a row came in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Other California snowpack and water supply news:

• KQED (San Francisco): Late storms boost California’s snowpack, hitting a 3-year streak not seen in decades
• SFGate: Calif. snowpack hits milestone not seen in 25 years​
• Los Angeles Times: For the first time in 25 years, California has a snowpack trifecta
• The San Joaquin Valley Sun (Fresno, Calif.): State snowpack nears average level for third consecutive year
• Courthouse News Service: California soaks up the benefits of a solid rain season
• Times of San Diego: Water Authority reports ‘more than enough’ supply to meet regional demands despite little rain
• KPBS (San Diego): San Diego has plenty of water now, and for the foreseeable future
• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power: News release: LADWP reports annual Mono Lake level reading, marking end of 2024-25 runoff year
• YubaNet (Nevada City, Calif.): Opinion: Nevada Irrigation District Water Supply update – emergency water shortage means no snowmelt to foothills