Publication: San Francisco Chronicle

UCLA Expert: Daniel Swain: Assistant Researcher and Climate Specialist, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

Synopsis: This year’s Sierra snowpack is among the largest on record, registering at 236% of average on April 1, when California’s snowpack typically peaks. As a result, higher-elevation regions are likely to face low fire risk in the coming months.

UCLA News: “The first half of the fire season there might still be snow on the ground,” Swain said. “And the second half of fire season we’re still going to see residual soil moisture at higher-than-usual levels when the snow does melt.”

Read more at San Francisco Chronicle.