Bay Area Welcomes More Late Spring Rain as Weather Shifts

A strong Pacific storm is forecast to move into California later this week. It is expected to bring rain to low elevations and significant snow higher up.

Forecasters say the system could add as much as three feet of snow at about 7,000 feet. That would bolster a snowpack that has shrunk dramatically this season.

Sierra snowpack and mountain impacts

Warm early spring weather erased much of the Sierra Nevada snow cover. Several ski areas closed runs or ended operations early because of slushy conditions.

At the start of the month, surveys put the Sierra snowpack at only 18 percent of the April 1 average. The California Department of Water Resources conducts the spring survey each year.

Officials treat that measurement as the best gauge of water available for farms and cities. This year, crews noted green grass poking through patchy snow during the survey.

Water supply outlook

Reservoir storage remains relatively healthy across much of California. But water managers cautioned that repeated dry years would change the picture quickly.

“This is how droughts start,” Aaron Baker, chief operating officer for the Santa Clara Valley Water District in the South Bay, told Filmogaz.com.

Bay Area forecast and timing

Bay Area residents may see late spring rain as weather shifts bring wetter patterns. Guidance from a 14-day forecast shows above-average chances for precipitation.

Maley noted elevated precipitation probabilities over the upcoming two weeks. The Climate Prediction Center says extended guidance leans toward above-average temperatures and rain totals into late April and early May.

Potential local impacts

• Ski areas could gain new snow at higher elevations, though access may remain limited.
• Farmers and urban water managers will monitor how the new snow affects runoff.
• Outdoor plans and spring events could face rain during the late-April into early-May window.

Officials urged residents and water users to stay informed as forecasts update. Conditions may change as the storm system approaches.