What a Difference a Year Makes! Satellite Images Highlight Huge Differences in California Snowpack 2018 v 2019

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snowpack
Satellite image from this year. Credit: Rob Mayeda NBC Bay Area Facebook

What a difference a year makes! Check out these contrasting satellite images of the snowpack in northern California from 2018 and 2019.

Sierra, snowpack,
Satellite image from last year. Credit: Rob Mayeda NBC Bay Area Facebook

It’s clear to see the vast changes in the Sierra snowpack, which is 140% of average this year, compared to just 21% last year.

Sierra, snowpack
Credit: Rob Mayeda NBC Bay Area Facebook

The Sacramento River is much higher, causing sediment runoff into the ocean/bay, and the Golden State, in general, is looking way more green.


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2 thoughts on “What a Difference a Year Makes! Satellite Images Highlight Huge Differences in California Snowpack 2018 v 2019

  1. It helps that this was taken right after a huge and unusually cold series of storm systems. The snowy peaks on the Diablo and Santa Lucia mountains are *not* normal even during the best years.

    1. True. These images are actually showing snow coverage, not snowpack. A couple inches doesn’t look any different than several feet of depth. In any case, it’s good to see.

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