California’s Mild Snowfall Means the Drought Will Likely Continue


view from Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, eastern California, USA. Image: James St.John/flickr/CC BY 2.0
view from Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, eastern California, USA. Image: James St.John/flickr/CC BY 2.0
Californians are keeping a hopeful eye to the Sierra Nevada mountains, hoping for lots of snow to keep the state flowing with water this summer.

By Meredith Rutland Bauer | MOTHERBOARD

So far, it looks like they’ll be disappointed. The most recent estimate from a state water agency shows the Sierra Nevadas has only received 72 percent of the snow it receives in non-drought years by late December.

A report from the California Department of Water Resources shows the northern section of the Sierra Nevadas has received 67 percent of its regular snowfall, the central Sierras received 63 percent and the southern Sierras received 86 percent as of Tuesday.

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