California Snowpack Measure Shows No End in Sight for Drought
Surveyors visited the Sierra Nevadas to gauge prospects for water runoff this spring.
Despite some recent storms, California's chief snow surveyor delivered more grim news Tuesday for his drought-plagued state: The snow that's fallen so far contains only one-third of the average water content for this time of the year.
As opposed to a very wet "miracle March" that many Californians hoped for, state officials said that last month marked a "mediocre March"—not as dry as December and January, but falling far short of the deluge needed to lift the state out of drought. (Related: "Does California Rain Mean the Drought Is Over?")
Tuesday's snow total was the lowest April 1 reading since 1988, when Sierra Nevada snows were at 29 percent of normal.
"We can hope that conditions improve, but time is running out
