136 Percent: First Sierra Snow Survey Leaves California Water Officials Cautiously Optimistic

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Storms have been pounding the Sierra this season and it showed in the state's first snow pack survey.

Water resources officials are cautiously optimistic that the snowpack currently sitting at 136 percent of normal is a good start, especially with cold conditions continuing through the new year. It's a far cry from the 45 percent of normal from last year's first survey in January.

"This is very picturesque, it's great visuals but it's important to keep in mind this is first of January or nearly, we need a solid 4 months of storm activity to even have decent reservoir recovery, let alone to have them be full at the end of the season," said Frank Gehrke.

Following a dry January and below normal months, the snowpack had depleted to just 5 percent in April, and the final survey last year showed no snow at all.

The snowpack provides 30 percent of the state's water and is important for filling reservoirs.

The paths of storms this season have left the Sierra with the bulk of the precipitation. With no rain expected in Sacramento before the end of the year, California's capital only has received half of its expected rainfall at this point in the year, with no above-normal months so far.

In December 2014 alone, Sacramento received 7.63 inches of rain, or double the monthly total and above average for the year to that point, but a dry January, with only .01 inches in what should have been one of the wettest months of the year, meant the drought would extend into a fourth year.

Hydrologists are looking to the past with solid years in 2006 and 2011 as hope for breaking the trend of dry years. But for now, it's wait-and-see whether the state will get enough rain to recharge depleted reservoirs and groundwater supplies.