According to the state’s first snow survey of 2025, Northern California has much more precipitation than Southern California, and that pattern may persist with climate change.
As of Jan. 2, there is 24 inches of snow depth in the northern Sierra Nevada, according to the California Department of Water Resources. That amounts to 9 inches of water, or 91% of average, for the Phillips Station site where the survey was done. It was 37% of the April 1 average.
“We use April 1 because that’s typically when our snowpack peaks,” said Andy Reising, DWR’s water supply forecasting unit manager. Statewide, the snow water equivalent is 108% of average for this date, according to DWR’s readings from 130 electronic stations placed throughout the Sierra Nevada…