The California Sierra’s snowpack is at 38% of its normal volume, meaning the expected water supply coming from the melting snow will be far less than what’s needed to avoid water rationing in the area, CNN reports.
“We are experiencing climate change whiplash in real time with extreme swings between wet and dry conditions,” Department of Water Resources director Karla Nemeth said in a statement last month. “We are continuing with a series of actions to balance the needs of endangered species, water supply conservation, and water deliveries for millions of Californians.”
The loss of snowpack was unexpected given how the snow season started. More than 17 feet of snow covered Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevadas thanks to a December snowfall, but all that was melted away due to changing climate.