California is bracing for a challenging dry season as snowpack levels plummet to just 18% of the historical average, according to the Department of Water Resources. The northern Sierra Nevada range is particularly affected, with a mere 6% of normal snow levels. The central and southern regions are only slightly better, at 21% and 32% respectively. This shortfall stems from warmer winter storms that brought rain instead of snow, filling reservoirs but failing to establish a crucial frozen reserve. The snowpack peaked prematurely in late February and melted quickly due to record-breaking March temperatures, further diminishing water supplies.