At UC Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Laboratory, located at 6,894 feet above sea level near Donner Pass, researchers collect detailed measurements of the snowpack each day. The reason: Extraordinary warmth has been the norm across the West this winter. This is not going to be a problematic year in California.”It’s a very different situation, however, in the Rocky Mountains, where snowmelt sustains the Colorado River. The meager snowpack could mean the long drought in the Colorado River Basin intensifies again this year, Swain said. But based on how far below average the snowpack remains in the Rocky Mountains, a full rebound seems very unlikely this year.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 25, 2026 00:32 UTC