GALLERY: California Water Snow Survey
California's weather turned largely dry in January and left the water content of the Sierra Nevada snowpack below average for this time of year, state officials said after measurements Thursday. Water managers measure the snowpack manually and electronically at more than 260 locations, including Phillips Station, south of Lake Tahoe. Click on any image to launch slideshow.
Department of Water Resources Engineer John King, left, and Kris Tjernell measure the depth of the snow survey tube in the snowpack while conducting the April, 2019 snow survey at the Phillips Station near Echo Summit, Calif., Tuesday, April 2, 2019. The survey found the snowpack at 106.5 inches deep with a snow water equivalent of 51 inches at this location at this time of year. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)Photo by: Randall Benton/AP
Andy Reising, center, of the Department of Water Resources, analyzes data obtained while conducting the April, 2019 snow survey at the Phillips Station near Echo Summit, Calif., Tuesday, April 2, 2019. The survey found the snowpack at 106.5 inches deep with a snow water equivalent of 51 inches at this location at this time of year.(AP Photo/Randall Benton)Photo by: Randall Benton/AP
Sean de Guzman, center, chief of snow surveys for the California Department of Water Resources, plunges a snow survey tube into the snowpack during the first snow survey of the season at Phillips Station near Echo Summit, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020. The survey found the snowpack at 33.5 inches deep with a water content of 11 inches which is 97% of average at this location at this time of year. Also seen are DWR's Ramesh Gautam, left, and Lauren Miller. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)Photo by: Rich Pedroncelli/AP
Sean de Guzman, chief of snow surveys for the California Department of Water Resources, walks out to a snow covered field to conduct the first snow survey of the season at Phillips Station near Echo Summit, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020. The survey found the snowpack at 33.5 inches deep with a water content of 11 inches which is 97% of average at this location at this time of year. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)Photo by: Rich Pedroncelli/AP
Sean de Guzman, chief of snow surveys for the California Department of Water Resources, checks for debris in the snow survey tube before plunging it into the snowpack during the first snow survey of the season at Phillips Station near Echo Summit, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020. The survey found the snowpack at 33.5 inches deep with a water content of 11 inches which is 97% of average at this location at this time of year. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)Photo by: Rich Pedroncelli/AP
Sean de Guzman, chief of snow surveys for the California Department of Water Resources, carries the snow survey tube as he walks across a snow covered field during the second snow survey of the season at Phillips Station near Echo Summit , Calif., Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. The survey found the snowpack at 40. 5 inches deep with a water content of 14.5 inches. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)Photo by: Rich Pedroncelli/AP
Sean de Guzman, chief of snow surveys for the California Department of Water Resources, prepares to plunge the snow survey tube into the snowpack during the second snow survey of the season at Phillips Station near Echo Summit , Calif., Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. The survey found the snowpack at 40. 5 inches deep with a water content of 14.5 inches. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)Photo by: Rich Pedroncelli/AP
Sean de Guzman, chief of snow surveys for the California Department of Water Resources, center, prepares to plunge the snow survey tube into the snowpack during the second snow survey of the season at Phillips Station near Echo Summit, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. The survey found the snowpack at 40.5 inches deep with a water content of 14.5 inches. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)Photo by: Rich Pedroncelli/AP
Sean de Guzman, chief of snow surveys for the California Department of Water Resources, checks the depth of the snow pack during the second snow survey of the season at Phillips Station near Echo Summit, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. The survey found the snowpack at 40.5 inches deep with a water content of 14.5 inches. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)Photo by: Rich Pedroncelli/AP
Sean de Guzman, chief of snow surveys for the California Department of Water Resources, checks the weight of the snowpack on a scale held by DWR's Jeremy Hill, unseen, during the second snow survey of the season at Phillips Station near Echo Summit, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. The survey found the snowpack at 40.5 inches deep with a water content of 14.5 inches. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)Photo by: Rich Pedroncelli/AP
Sean de Guzman, chief of snow surveys for the California Department of Water Resources, right, checks the snow survey tube is clear before plunging it into the snowpack as DWR's Jeremy Hill, left, looks on during the second snow survey of the season at Phillips Station near Echo Summit, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. The survey found the snowpack at 40.5 inches deep with a water content of 14.5 inches. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)Photo by: Rich Pedroncelli/AP
A skier makes a jump at the Sierra At Tahoe ski resort near Echo Summit , Calif., Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. The California Department of Water Resources held its second snow survey of the season at nearby Phillips Station and found the snowpack at 40.5 inches deep with a water content of 14.5 inches.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)Photo by: Rich Pedroncelli/AP
A pair of skiers make their way down the hill at the Sierra At Tahoe ski resort near Echo Summit, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. The California Department of Water Resources held its second snow survey of the season at nearby Phillips station and found the snowpack at 40.5 inches deep with a water content of 14.5 inches.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)Photo by: Rich Pedroncelli/AP