Sierra snowpack at 65% average after recent storms

Because of the excessive magnitude of rainfall past year, ample amounts of h2o were stored successful reservoirs passim the Central Valley.

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Winter Weather Advisories proceed successful the Sierra and snowfall totals volition proceed to build, with snowfall levels dropping to astir 3,000 feet overnight.

Operation snowflake volition beryllium successful effect for some the Tejon and Tehachapi Pass, with 1-3 inches of snowfall imaginable connected Interstate 5.

"We're monitoring it and if there's capable snowfall that it is determined to beryllium indispensable to adjacent the roadway, past we would adjacent it," said Allison Colburn, with Caltrans District 7.

Wednesday greeting snowfall levels were astir 4,500 feet, by Thursday greeting a airy dusting of snowfall is expected connected the Grapevine, arsenic debased arsenic 1,100 feet.

"We don't let chains connected I-5 done the Tejon Pass, there's nary truly harmless spot for radical to propulsion implicit and enactment the chains on, and it's truly conscionable the acme we're acrophobic about," explained Colburn.

This year's snowpack is 40-45% beneath the seasonal average, with astir 11 inches of h2o contented connected the ground.

"Looking astatine the snowpack, it's astir 5 feet heavy close now. What does that mean? That means we person astir 65% of mean of existent h2o content," said Steven Haugen, a watermaster with Kings River Water Association.

Haugen says much rainfall and snowfall is needed for the season.

A stark quality compared to what we saw past year.

"About a 230% h2o year, close present we are looking astatine 60-70% h2o year, truthful dramatically different," explained Haugen.

Because of the excessive magnitude of rainfall past year, ample amounts of h2o were stored successful reservoirs similar Pine Flat and passim the Central Valley.

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