20 Apr A Boom Year for Sierra Nevada Snow (One of the largest on record)

The Sierra Nevada mountain range in California experienced a record-breaking amount of snow during the 2022-2023 water year, following three years of severe drought. Eleven atmospheric rivers contributed to precipitation levels that were 200% or more of expected amounts, leading to an anomalously high snowpack in the region. Satellite imagery from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite shows a stark difference in snow cover between April 1, 2022, and April 6, 2023. Snow water equivalent (SWE) measurements, which indicate how much water would be produced if all the snow in an area melted at once, were four times the average for April 1 in the southern Sierra Nevadas, and 284% and 271% of normal in the central and northern areas, respectively. California’s Department of Water Resources also found that the snowpack was one of the largest on record, measuring 61 inches (1.55 meters) on April 3, or 237% of the average for that day. This year’s snowpack is expected to improve California’s water supply, which is typically sourced 30% from snowmelt. The data, which helps water managers better forecast snowmelt, is supported by NASA’s applied sciences program and California’s Department of Water Resources.

Summary from: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/151232/a-boom-year-for-sierra-nevada-snow?mc_cid=aa5501068e&mc_eid=3ad1be6598