Here's an update on reservoir levels around Northern California

Snowmelt has been cascading down the west slope of the Sierra for the past few weeks. Some of that runoff is producing rises in reservoirs and prompting water releases.

Snowmelt has been cascading down the west slope of the Sierra for the past few weeks. Some of that runoff is producing rises in reservoirs and prompting water releases.

TAKE YOU DOWN THE RIVER. AND NOW THAT SPRING RUNOFF IS WELL UNDERWAY, OUR NEWSROOM IS GETTING QUESTIONS ABOUT RESERVOIR LEVELS AND THE STATUS OF THE SNOWPACK. METEOROLOGIST HEATHER WALDMAN JOINS US WITH THE ANSWER TO SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS. HEATHER YEAH, WE’RE GOING TO START OFF WITH A LOOK AT THE SNOWPACK FROM SPACE. THIS IMAGE FROM APRIL NINTH. THIS IS ABOUT WHEN THE SNOWPACK REACHED ITS PEAK. PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE NORTH SIERRA HERE AND INTO THE FOOTHILLS. I’M GOING TO ADVANCE THIS. AND THIS IS YESTERDAY. THE SNOWPACK. AND YOU CAN SEE HOW IT’S REALLY ERODED AWAY THROUGH THE FOOTHILLS AND ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTH SIERRA. I WAS UP IN THE HIGH SIERRA JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, AND IT REALLY STRUCK ME HOW THE SOUTH FACING SLOPES REALLY DON’T HAVE ALL THAT MUCH SNOW AT ALL. MEANWHILE, THE NORTH FACING SLOPES WHICH ARE IN THE SHADE, YEAH, THEY GOT PLENTY OF SNOW STILL LEFT TO MELT RIGHT NOW. SNOW WATER CONTENT STILL AT 250% OF AVERAGE FOR THIS DATE IN THE SOUTH. SIERRA, OVER 300% OF AVERAGE. AGAIN, THAT’S FOR THIS PARTICULAR DATE ON APRIL 9TH, WE HAD 62.7IN OF SNOW ON AVERAGE LOCKED UP IN THE CENTRAL SIERRA AS OF TODAY, THAT NUMBER IS DOWN TO 53.9IN ACROSS THE STATE, ANYWHERE FROM SEVEN TO NEARLY NINE INCHES OF WATER HAS COME OUT OF THAT SNOWPACK. SOME OF IT IS SOAKED INTO THE GROUND. SOME OF IT’S EVAPORATED, BUT PLENTY OF IT HAS WOUND UP IN SOME OF OUR RESERVOIRS. THE INFLOW AT LAKE SHASTA NOW UP TO ABOUT 12,000 CUBIC FEET PER SECOND. THEY ARE RELEASING SOME WATER AND THAT MAY NEED TO BE INCREASED HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IS THE LAKE RIGHT NOW, 96% OF CAPACITY OVER TO OROVILLE. DWR DID INCREASE RELEASES YESTERDAY. THAT’S AS INFLOWS ARE NOW UP OVER 22,000 CUBIC FEET PER SECOND. AGAIN, ALL OF THAT SNOW RUNNING OFF INTO SOME OF THOSE RESERVOIRS. AND DOWN AT FOLSOM, THEY’VE BEEN SORT OF CAREFULLY MAINTAINING THE WATER LEVEL OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS. RIGHT NOW, INFLOW JUST UP OVER 11,000 CUBIC FEET PER SECOND. LAKE RIGHT NOW AT 78% OF CAPACITY. AND

Here's an update on reservoir levels around Northern California

Snowmelt has been cascading down the west slope of the Sierra for the past few weeks. Some of that runoff is producing rises in reservoirs and prompting water releases.

Snowmelt season is well underway, and as water flows down the west slope of the Sierra, some of it is destined to end up in Northern California's reservoirs. Here's an update on water storage around the region. Lake ShastaLake Shasta is currently at 96% of capacity. At the start of April, the reservoir was at 83% of capacity. As of Wednesday afternoon, inflow from runoff is estimated to be around 12,000 cfs. Water managers are releasing just over 6,000 cfs in order to maintain space in the lake for future runoff.Lake OrovilleLake Oroville is also nearing capacity. On April 1, storage was at 82%. As of Wednesday, storage is up to 90% with 19,000 cfs of runoff inflow. Water is being released at about 15,000 cfs to maintain space in the lake.Folsom LakeFolsom Lake's water level has been hovering around the "top of conservation" for the past several weeks. This is the highest level that water managers will allow water to get at any point in the season. During the spring, that "top of conservation" is relatively low in order to keep room for snowmelt. Folsom is small relative to Shasta and Oroville and fills up quickly during runoff season.As of Wednesday, Folsom is at 77% of capacity. That is up from 68% on April 1. Water managers have been making steady releases throughout the month in order to balance incoming snowmelt with downstream water levels on the Lower American River.Don Pedro ReservoirIn the San Joaquin Valley watershed, Don Pedro Reservoir has been a critical focus for flood mitigation. Water managers have been making very calculated releases over the past several months, working to stay ahead of a record-setting snowpack in the South Sierra.On April 1, Don Pedro was at 86% of capacity. On Wednesday, that number was down to 77% of capacity. Waterways in the San Joaquin Valley are much smaller and move much slower than those in the Sacramento Valley, making the region much more prone to creek and river flooding.In a typical season, it takes approximately eight weeks for Sierra snow to melt off. This season, the snowpack is not only much larger than average, but it also hung around later into April. Snow melt so far has occurred at a fairly typical rate, but increasing temperatures over the next few days will increase runoff and river levels above the reservoirs through the weekend. | MORE | Most of Yosemite Valley to close starting Friday with flooding expected

Snowmelt season is well underway, and as water flows down the west slope of the Sierra, some of it is destined to end up in Northern California's reservoirs.

Here's an update on water storage around the region.

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Lake Shasta

Lake Shasta is currently at 96% of capacity. At the start of April, the reservoir was at 83% of capacity. As of Wednesday afternoon, inflow from runoff is estimated to be around 12,000 cfs. Water managers are releasing just over 6,000 cfs in order to maintain space in the lake for future runoff.

Lake Oroville

Lake Oroville is also nearing capacity. On April 1, storage was at 82%. As of Wednesday, storage is up to 90% with 19,000 cfs of runoff inflow. Water is being released at about 15,000 cfs to maintain space in the lake.

Folsom Lake

Folsom Lake's water level has been hovering around the "top of conservation" for the past several weeks. This is the highest level that water managers will allow water to get at any point in the season. During the spring, that "top of conservation" is relatively low in order to keep room for snowmelt. Folsom is small relative to Shasta and Oroville and fills up quickly during runoff season.

As of Wednesday, Folsom is at 77% of capacity. That is up from 68% on April 1. Water managers have been making steady releases throughout the month in order to balance incoming snowmelt with downstream water levels on the Lower American River.

Don Pedro Reservoir

In the San Joaquin Valley watershed, Don Pedro Reservoir has been a critical focus for flood mitigation. Water managers have been making very calculated releases over the past several months, working to stay ahead of a record-setting snowpack in the South Sierra.

On April 1, Don Pedro was at 86% of capacity. On Wednesday, that number was down to 77% of capacity.

Waterways in the San Joaquin Valley are much smaller and move much slower than those in the Sacramento Valley, making the region much more prone to creek and river flooding.

Hearst Owned

The snowpack peaked during the second week of April at the Central Sierra Snow Lab site near Donner Summit. Since that time, approximately 11 inches of water has melted.

In a typical season, it takes approximately eight weeks for Sierra snow to melt off. This season, the snowpack is not only much larger than average, but it also hung around later into April. Snow melt so far has occurred at a fairly typical rate, but increasing temperatures over the next few days will increase runoff and river levels above the reservoirs through the weekend.

| MORE | Most of Yosemite Valley to close starting Friday with flooding expected

Here's an update on reservoir levels around Northern California

Snowmelt has been cascading down the west slope of the Sierra for the past few weeks. Some of that runoff is producing rises in reservoirs and prompting water releases.

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Lake Shasta

Lake Oroville

Folsom Lake

Don Pedro Reservoir

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