California’s enormous snowpack

The snowpack in the Sierra Nevada this year is one of the largest ever recorded.

Snow water equivalent (in inches)

Maps show the extent of the Sierra snowpack compared to the historical average

0

35

44

77

59

April 1, 2023

Maps show the extent of the Sierra snowpack compared to the historical average Maps show the extent of the Sierra snowpack compared to the historical average

Redding

Reno

Sacramento

San Francisco

Merced

Fresno

50 MILES

Bakersfield

Average, 2000-2021

Maps show the extent of the Sierra snowpack compared to the historical average Maps show the extent of the Sierra snowpack compared to the historical average

Redding

Reno

Sacramento

San Francisco

Merced

Fresno

50 MILES

Bakersfield

Lines divide Sierra Nevada watersheds. Average is a modeled estimate for years 2000-2021.

Leanne Lestak and Noah Molotch, University of Colorado, Boulder, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Sean Greene LOS ANGELES TIMES