Officials flag new water warning as California’s key supply figure keeps falling

California DWR warns snowpack is falling

The California Department of Water Resources conducted its second snow survey last week and reported that the statewide snowpack is 59 percent of average.

California snowpack supplies about 30 percent of the state’s water, so the number is a key input for supply forecasts.

DWR said statewide snowpack was about 89 percent of average in early January, roughly three weeks before the second survey. Over three weeks, the statewide figure dropped 30 points, moving from near normal to well below normal.

California DWR snow survey explains 30% supply

The California Department of Water Resources uses snow surveys to measure water content from statewide snow depth. DWR treats this measurement as crucial because the snowpack contributes about 30 percent of California’s water supply.

The second survey took place last week, during what DWR calls the best snow-producing months of the year. Andy Reising said California is now two-thirds of the way through that prime period.

California DWR says forecast beyond 2 weeks

The California Department of Water Resources said the near-term outlook shows no significant storm activity. A DWR official spokesperson told Newsweek that certainty is limited beyond a two-week forecast window.

The spokesperson said every dry week makes it more difficult for the snowpack to catch up to average levels. Andy Reising also noted that the farther the season goes with below-average conditions, the harder it becomes to catch up.

California DWR compares the drop to January 2025

California water officials said the current pattern resembles the 2025 snow season. Their first snow survey in early January 2025 found statewide snowpack at 108 percent of average.

By the end of January 2025, statewide snowpack fell to 67 percent of average after abnormally dry weather during the wettest month of the year. DWR said statewide warm, dry stretches have followed storms at the start of the current year.

California DWR shows a late winter 2025 rebound

State water officials said last year’s snowpack recovered later in the season. After dropping to 67% of average by late January 2025, the agency reported snowpack reached 90% of average by late March 2025.

Andy Reising said February and March are key months for snow accumulation. DWR said late-winter storms can boost totals even after a dry January.

California DWR says reservoirs sit at 126% of average

State water officials said major reservoirs remain above average despite the weak snowpack. The agency reported that major reservoirs statewide are at 126% of average for this time of year.

DWR credited recent precipitation on top of three consecutive years of above-average snowpack conditions. DWR also pointed to state efforts to capture and store as much water as possible.

California DWR flags Castaic Lake at 98% average

California water officials said every primary reservoir they track is above the seasonal average. They noted one exception in Southern California, where Castaic Lake is at 98% of its historical average.

DWR’s update came alongside the second snow survey, which measured statewide snowpack at 59 percent of average. The contrast shows storage conditions can stay strong even when snowpack readings weaken.

California DWR lists Shasta 122% Oroville 136%

The state water agency reported strong storage at the state’s two largest reservoirs. It said Lake Shasta is at 122% of its historical average and Lake Oroville is at 136% of its historical average for this time of year.

DWR highlighted Lake Oroville with a photo of the Enterprise Bridge over a full lake on June 15, 2023, in Oroville, California. The image aligns with DWR’s message that recent years have boosted storage.

California DWR says drought ended mid-January

U.S. Drought Monitor data show California fully emerged from drought by early January 2026. The update marked the first time in about 25 years that no part of the state was classified as in drought or even abnormally dry, based on early January 2026 maps.

DWR noted that abnormally dry is the first level used in drought tracking. According to the map referenced in the report, California was the only US state not considered unusually dry or under any drought conditions.

California DWR says warm spells erase gains

State water officials said early-season storms did not lead to lasting snowpack gains. Andy Reising, manager of DWR’s Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Unit, said early gains have flatlined or eroded after warm, dry conditions.

Reising said recent California winters alternate between long warm stretches and intense storms. DWR said this stop-and-start pattern makes snowpack progress uneven statewide.

California DWR tracks 30-point snowpack drop

State water officials said the statewide snowpack declined from early to late January. DWR measured snowpack at 89 percent of average in the first survey in early January, then reported 59 percent of average in the second survey last week.

That change equals a 30-point drop in about three weeks. DWR linked the decline to warm, dry conditions that followed storms at the start of the year.

California DWR contrasts 2022 lows with today

The state water agency compared current reservoir levels with those during the 2022 drought. It said Lake Shasta, Lake Oroville, and other major reservoirs reached low levels during summer 2022 amid a multi-year drought.

In the current update, DWR said major reservoirs statewide are at 126 percent of average for this time of year. DWR said the higher storage reflects recent precipitation and three consecutive years of above-average snowpack.

For a closer look at where climate stress is still catching up with California, check out how Highway 1 faces growing climate-related damage along California’s coast.

California DWR warns dry weeks slow catch-up

The state water agency warned that a dry winter complicates summer planning. DWR said the longer California goes without adequate snowfall, the harder it will be to catch up to levels needed to maintain reservoir supply through dry summer months.

The second snow survey last week measured statewide snowpack at 59 percent of average. DWR said the first survey, conducted in early January, estimated 89 percent of the average.

For more on why water stress keeps returning even after wet years, check out how California faces recurring water shortages for unexpected reasons.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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