Sierra Snowpack At 29 Percent Of Normal

Results from the latest snow survey in the Sierra are in, and as expected, they are lower than average.

The survey taken today shows the snowpack is at 29 percent of normal at 33.7 inches. Experts say the measurement could be the most important snow pack survey of the season, since it's historically when the peak snow of the season is measured.

The California Department of Water Resources measures the snowpack monthly during the wet season. The Sierra Nevada snowpack is important because it stores water that melts in the spring as runoff. Communities and farmers depend on it during California's hot, dry summers.

The April 1 survey is critical because it marks the peak of the snowpack. There's just one month remaining of the rainy season.

Nancy Vogel, a spokeswoman for California's Department of Water Resources, said the state water levels remain in flux, given the current wet weather. Another weaker system is forecast to hit California late Thursday and into Friday.

"It'll take some time to quantify the results of the storms," she said. "Hopefully, it'll still be snowing."

The current storm moving across California is expected to deliver up to a foot by early Wednesday. Two school districts in El Dorado canceled class on Tuesday. Forecasters for the National Weather Service said some places at high elevations may get two feet of fresh snow.