California's snowpack was already meager. Now comes an extraordinary heat wave

"California relies on the Sierra snowpack for about 30% of its water, on average. But the extraordinary warmth across the West this winter, which broke records in many areas, brought more precipitation falling as rain instead of snow."

"Scientific research has shown that human-caused climate change is pushing average snow lines higher in the mountains and changing the timing of runoff. Warming driven by the use of fossil fuels and rising levels of greenhouse gases also is bringing longer and more extreme heat waves."

"The Sierra snowpack measures 48% of average for this time of year, according to state data, down from 73% of average in late February. California's snowpack typically reaches its peak around April 1. But this year, state measurements from across the Sierra Nevada show that the snowpack has been shrinking since Feb. 25."

California's Sierra Nevada snowpack has declined significantly to 48% of average for this time of year, down from 73% in late February, due to an exceptionally warm winter. The warm temperatures caused more precipitation to fall as rain rather than snow. An extreme heat wave forecast for the coming week will accelerate the snowpack's rapid melt. California depends on the Sierra snowpack for approximately 30% of its water supply on average. Climate change is pushing snow lines higher in mountains and altering runoff timing, while also intensifying heat waves. The snowpack typically peaks around April 1, but this year it has been shrinking since late February.

Read at Los Angeles Times