Winter Storms Are Driving , California's Unprecedented , Snowpack Recovery.<br />'Newsweek' reports that California's snowpack has <br />recovered at an unprecedented rate, increasing at<br />a magnitude never before seen in this century.<br />As of the beginning of January 2024, <br />California's snowpack was at 28% of normal. .<br />As of April 2024, the snowpack <br />measured 110% of normal. .<br />According to weather analyst and storm chaser <br />Colin McCarthy, a snowpack recovery to this <br />degree "has not happened in the 21st century.".<br />Before 2000-2001, it's been difficult <br />to find a consistent database for <br />California's statewide snowpack, Colin McCarthy, weather analyst <br />and storm chaser, via 'Newsweek'.<br />There hasn't been a year in the 21st <br />century close to replicating this <br />pattern: a much below average <br />snowpack at the beginning of <br />February [less than 55%] and then <br />finishing above normal by spring, Colin McCarthy, weather analyst <br />and storm chaser, via 'Newsweek'.<br />A series of winter storms, including a number <br />of atmospheric rivers and a blizzard in the <br />Sierra Nevada, have occurred in California this year.<br />'Newsweek' reports that last year also had record <br />amounts of snowpack accumulation in the mountains.<br />The increased snowpack comes as a good sign <br />for the state's water supply which relies on <br />melting snow to feed rivers and reservoirs.<br />Growing up in California in the 21st <br />century, I have seen three separate <br />record-setting multiyear droughts <br />plague the state, so it's fantastic <br />to see two years in a row of <br />above-normal snowpack, Colin McCarthy, weather analyst <br />and storm chaser, via 'Newsweek'.<br />Following last year's record-setting <br />snowpack, this year's slightly above <br />[normal] snowpack is a perfect case <br />scenario for California's water supply, Colin McCarthy, weather analyst <br />and storm chaser, via 'Newsweek'
