Local snowpack close to average

While it seems like there have been a lot more nice days than rainy days, the amount of snow and water found at Quaking Aspen Wednesday is about average for the first of February.

Sequoia National Forest hydrologist Josh Courter reported Thursday that surveyors found an average snow depth of 26.3 inches at the 7,000-foot Quaking Aspen snow course.

The snow contained 8.7 inches of snow for a density of 33 percent.

“That’s not too bad,” said Courter.

Last year, the Feb. 1 survey found 14 inches of snow with just 5.6 inches of water, but in 2011, they found 47 inches of snow and 12.45 inches of water. That survey came after Porterville had more than 8 inches of rain in December of 2010.

Over the past decade, the average snow depth has been around 30 inches and water depth has averaged around 10 inches.

Statewide, the snowpack was put at 90 percent of normal.

This year rainfall has been light. For the season that begin July 1, 2012, rainfall totals just 3.33 inches and only three-quarters of an inch of rain was measured this month.

The National Weather Service in Hanford is calling for dry days until at least Feb. 8, when there is only a slight chance of rain predicted. Daytime temperatures will remain in the mid-60s into next week

Average rainfall for Feb. 1 in Porterville is 5.77 inches.