California Snowpack Reaches 71% of Average After December Storms
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Follow us on Google News or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!
📰 The quick summary: December storms have boosted California’s snowpack to 71% of average, providing crucial water resources for the state’s reservoirs, cities, and farms.
📈 One key stat: The snowpack survey recorded 24 inches of snow depth with water content at 50% of average for this time of year, helping maintain reservoir levels at 123% of average.
💬 One key quote: “While California is in a better position now, it is still early in the season and our state’s water supply for this year will ultimately depend on a continued cadence of storms throughout winter and early spring.“
1️⃣ The big picture: Recent December storms have significantly improved California’s vital snowpack, which currently measures at 71% of average statewide. Scientists conducted their first seasonal measurement at Phillips station in the Sierra Nevada, recording 24 inches of snow depth. This winter snowpack functions as a natural reservoir that provides approximately one-third of California’s annual water supply when it melts in spring. Water officials are cautiously optimistic about these early results, though they note the snowpack’s water content remains at just 50% of the seasonal average and 21% of the typical April 1st peak.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The recent improvement in California’s snowpack represents a critical boost to the state’s water security after early December’s dry conditions threatened water supplies. This natural frozen reservoir will gradually release water throughout spring and summer, replenishing groundwater and flowing into rivers and streams that supply cities and agriculture. State reservoirs are currently at 123% of their historical average, providing a buffer against potential dry periods. The series of December storms has created a solid foundation for the remainder of the snow accumulation season, giving water managers more options for allocation to various needs throughout 2026.
3️⃣ What’s next: Water officials will continue monitoring snowpack levels through regular measurements until the expected April 1st peak. Additional winter storms will be needed to build the snowpack closer to average levels. Water managers must prepare allocation plans based on how the remainder of the winter season unfolds.
Read the full story here: The Guardian – California snowpack gets a boost from series of December downpours
