Sierra Nevada Snowpack 2024 Photos. Snow that falls in the sierra nevada each winter is a natural reservoir that slowly melts and flows down into the river valleys in spring and summer. Even while the recent heatwave is over and warming temperatures are ahead, the central sierra snowpack remains at nearly 300% of normal, with much of the truckee river watershed at 200%.
On average, the sierra snowpack supplies about 30 percent of california’s water needs. In a typical year, this snowpack accounts for about 30 percent of california’s water supply.