The 8-Station Index is compiled by the California Department of Water Resources as a tool to measure the amount of water that has fallen in the Northern Sierra. Measurements from the eight stations cover the watersheds of the Sacramento, Feather and American rivers during the rain season, which begins Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30 the following year. During a dry season, the average precipitation can be as little as 20 inches, while the wettest season ever recorded was 2016-17 when 94.7 inches fell. This year, the index is at 53.6 inches, which is 118% of the season average to date and 101% of the season total. While the chance for additional rain or snow decreases through the rest of the season, more rain should add to these totals before the season ends. This is good news, considering most Valley spots are running below the average this season.

Other snowpack, water supply and drought news around the West:

• University of Colorado Boulder Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research: Blog: The data is in: Colorado’s snowpack is lagging behind the 21st century average in 2025
• Denver Gazette (Colo.): Colorado’s snowpack closes out winter 2025 at lowest level since 2018
• Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah): Utah’s reservoirs in great shape; no threat of flooding
• National Integrated Drought Information System: News release: Drought status update for California-Nevada
• Arizona’s Family (Phoenix): Arizona’s current long-term drought among worst on record
• FOX13 (Salt Lake City, Utah): COVID laws trip up plans for a drought declaration in Utah