Rain Fell. But Where’s the Snow?

Despite a strong start to California’s wet season, the state’s snowpack remains below average, raising concerns about water supplies for farmers this summer. In an Ag Alert report from the California Farm Bureau, experts and growers say the state’s rainfall has helped reservoirs but has not translated into enough snow stored in the mountains.

Rain at the end of last year improved water supplies and even eliminated drought conditions across California in mid January. Reservoir levels also climbed to meet or exceed historical averages for this time of year. But January turned warm and dry, and officials reported the statewide snowpack was only 59 percent of average by the end of the month. UC Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Lab director Andrew Schwartz said warmer storms brought rain instead of snow, limiting the natural storage that melts slowly into rivers and reservoirs.

Recent storms could still help boost snowpack. Researchers note levels often peak in April, leaving time for more storms, but farmers are already weighing water supplies as they plan crops.

For more, visit https://www.agalert.com/california-ag-news/archives/february-25-2026/subpar-snowpack-pushes-back-crop-plans-for-farmers/