Spring Snowstorm Extends Mammoth Mountain Ski Season Amid Ongoing Sierra Nevada Drought

A powerful spring snowstorm brought up to 3.5 feet of fresh snow to California’s Sierra Nevada over the weekend, allowing Mammoth Mountain ski resort to extend its season until at least Memorial Day, resort officials announced Monday.

The late-season snowfall follows a record-warm March that dramatically depleted the region’s snowpack. According to the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab, the Sierra’s snowpack measured just 23% of normal as of this week—marking the second smallest April 1 level since 1950. Snowpack is a critical natural reservoir for California, gradually releasing water that supplies cities and agriculture throughout the dry months.

Mammoth Mountain, one of California’s most popular ski destinations, reported 20 inches of new snow at its main lodge, with 16 lifts operating as of Tuesday. Riders are urged to use caution due to hidden hazards beneath the new snow. The National Weather Service in Reno forecasts a brief cold front midweek, potentially adding a dusting of snow at higher elevations before warmer conditions return and accelerate the melt.

Despite the boost for Mammoth and similar high-elevation resorts, the storm offered no reprieve to major Southern California ski areas, all of which closed for the season. Statewide, water managers have voiced concerns about the rapid snowmelt and its impact on water supplies and wildfire risk as California approaches its dry season. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reported the Eastern Sierra snowpack at 24% of normal, projecting it will help meet roughly 40% of the city’s annual water demand.

The U.S. Drought Monitor estimates that nearly half of California is currently experiencing abnormally dry conditions, with an additional 7.59% under moderate drought. Scientists attribute the increasing variability in snowpack and runoff patterns to climate change driven by fossil fuel emissions.

The current outlook for water supply and drought remains cautious, while Mammoth Mountain prepares for an extended ski season thanks to the unexpected storm.