California Braces for Spring Flooding and Summer Skiing After Record Snowfall.
California's record-setting snowpack is melting, causing rising river and stream flow levels not seen in years, and officials are warning residents to take precautions in what could become a treacherous flood season. The Department of Water Resources is urging Californians to remain aware of fluctuating stream levels and cold-water dangers as they venture outdoors this spring. The statewide average snow water equivalent has surged to 237 percent of the average for early April, posing a particularly severe flood threat to certain parts of the state, including the San Joaquin Valley.