How is the Snow Pack in the CA Sierras?

[redsquid2]

Does anybody know how the snow pack is really doing?

I went to http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cdecapp/snowapp/sweq.action

Just can't seem to get any useful information there. "63% of normal for this date" (Southern Sierra) doesn't tell me how it was for this date last year or the year before, or the year before.

Two Summers ago, I walked in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. Streams and lakes were drying up, and the poor trouts were running out of a place to live.

Thank you.

 

[B34NS]

Hard to say how much will necessarily stick from the last couple storms that have come through. I do know we're at less than half of expected so far even with the estimated 10 trillion gallons that we just got. It's gonna be a busy fire year up there again I think.

 

[OldNavy]

Central Ca to points north are in 100+ inches, some spots are 200+

here's a link for real time/daily updates
http://www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/google.php?type=snow

choose satellite view, & on the right choose what data set you want,

 

[redsquid2]

Thanks for the link. 100+ inches sounds good. I just hope the streams and lakes will be closer to normal next year.

 

[billym]

We have been getting a lot of rain in Norcal the past weeks, a ton of rain! The reports last I heard was the snowpack was not as great as the rain that has been falling.
However based on this vs last year, the Trouts have nothing to fear. Way more precipitation than this time last year. I would expect the snowpack to be the best in the last several years.
Just remember, more water equals more mosquitoes!!

 

[redsquid2]

I hate mosquitoes! I do my best to camp in cooler temps. I don't mind if it gets down to the mid-20's at night.

Maybe the Sierras are not so mosquitoey certain times of year? Certain altitudes? Care to share some of this knowledge?

I love the Sierras, but I have only been once: August 2013. We were about 20 or 30 miles northeast from Oakhurst, walking to a different lake every day, and camping by a different lake every night. It was all above 7000 ft., up to about 11,000 ft.

Editing to add pictures:

In this picture, at the horizon, on the far end of the lake, there would have normally been a cascade flowing over, but that cascade was bone dry:


Here is a lunch break at about 10,500 ft. There was a brook nearby, but it was not flowing.

 

[billym]

The bugs are more prevalent earlier in the summer. Just bring repellent and netting.

 

[B34NS]

Got some snow for the last two days, but mostly a dusting. It's a few feet deep above 7,000ft, but not much packed. Up here by Tahoe. Hopefully our new wet weather streak holds up and it'll be a great year.