Sierra Nevada has more than doubled expected snow for this time of year. Statewide snow water equivalent is 175 percent of normal for the date. Longer range outlooks still point to a fourth consecutive drought year for California. Another significant storm could be on the way this weekend. “Last year we saw a record-breaking October and December which gave way to the driest January through March period on record,” Schwartz says. Those wild swings are expected as the atmosphere warms, with stronger storms separated by longer and more severe dry spells.
