When it comes to rain and snow in California, this winter began with great promise. But hopes for a bountiful year appear to be evaporating.
The Sierra Nevada snowpack is at 93 percent of the historical average for the end of January, according to the state Department of Water Resources survey completed Tuesday afternoon.
That's not bad -- but a month ago, it was 140 percent.
AP - In this photo provided by the California Department of Water Resources, California Cooperative Snow Survey Program Chief, Frank Gehrke carries measuring tools to record snow depth on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 near Echo Summit, Calif. California's wet winter has left an above-average snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, boosting prospects for additional water deliveries to cities and farms, water officials said. (AP Photo/California Department of Water Resources, Dale Kolke)
What happened? Huge storms in early December dumped lots of snow across the Sierra, and rain filled reservoirs all over the state. But there has been almost no rain or snow in January.
"It's not looking nearly as rosy as it did on Jan. 1," said Frank Gehrke, chief of the California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program with the Department of Water Resources.
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite was 69 percent full Tuesday, 150 percent of normal for this time of year.
On Tuesday, Shasta Lake, the largest reservoir in California, was 76 percent full, 111 percent of normal for this date.
Lake Oroville, Folsom Lake and Don Pedro Reservoir were, respectively, at 113, 110 and 99 percent of normal.
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