Storms haven't broken drought

This week's light storms have done little to boost the Sierra Nevada snowpack.

It was at 86 percent of average in the central part of the range Thursday, up from 84 percent Tuesday, the California Department of Water Resources reported.

Officials urged continued water conservation in case the full winter turns out to be below average for a fourth straight year.

The snow survey "shows that we're still playing catch-up when it comes to our statewide water supplies," said Sue Sims, the department's chief deputy director, in a written statement.

Most of the state's big reservoirs are far below capacity. New Melones on the Stanislaus River is at only 48 percent. Don Pedro Reservoir on the Tuolumne River is at 70 percent, relatively good news for its users in the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts.

Officials said the state still could end up above average because the wet season runs to April. They also note that El Niño, a periodic warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean, could bring heavy rain and snow to California.
"We're so dependent on Mother Nature," said Paul Wenger, a Modesto almond and walnut grower and president of the California Farm Bureau Federation. "We just cross our fingers and hope and pray that we get some wet weather."

The last in the storm series is expected today, bringing a 50 percent chance of rain to the Modesto area and a greater chance of rain and snow in the central Sierra, the National Weather Service forecast.

The snowpack is measured daily with numerous automated sensors. Agencies also do monthly checks the old-fashioned way — inserting a tube and weighing the sample to determine the water content, which can vary with each storm.

This week's findings worry water managers because the snow is only 78 percent of average in the northern part of the state, the source of most of its water.

The 86 percent reading for the central Sierra — including the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced rivers — matches the statewide average.

The southern Sierra snowpack is at 100 percent of average, but it is a smaller part of the total supply.

Kathy Hoxsie, a meteorologist at the Weather Service in Sacramento, said Northern California has "an excellent shot of getting above-average precipitation" through early March.

"If we have an above- normal year this year, it will really ease the drought conditions," she said.

Despite the below-average snowpack, it has been enough to get ski resorts off to a strong start.