California water officials reported a good start to the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada but are also saying more snow is needed through the rest of winter to stay on track.

California is beginning 2025 with a solid start to the winter snowpack, but more storms are needed to keep the state’s water supplies on track.

Snowpack in the mountains of California is near average for this time of year, after a recent series of storms provided a much-needed boost to the region, officials reported Thursday. The season’s first manual snow survey recorded 24 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent — the amount of water contained in snow —

The start of another new year means another series of snow surveys conducted by the California Department of Water Resources. And many times over the years, questions arise as to why the state measures the snowpack and why it even matters to the everyday person.

The California Department of Water Resources took its first official snow survey at Phillips Station at the entrance ot the Sierra-At-Tahoe Ski Resort. At this point, what we have is a mixed bag of positive news with a good dose of future concern.

The Department of Water Resources’s (DWR) first snow survey of the season was conducted on Thursday and showed the snowpack at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada. According to the department, the snow depth was recorded at 24 inches and the snow water was recorded to be 9 inches.

California water officials are feeling somewhat optimistic about the state's snowpack but emphasized that they're hoping for more weather systems to keep the water supply at a healthy level. Heather Waldman looks at snow survey trends.