Snow Survey Looks Thin, But Experts Want To Wait And See Chris Remington Thursday, January 4, 2018 | Sacramento, CA Listen / download audio Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin. Kelly M. Grow / California Department of Water Resources The first snow survey of 2018 provided a dismal outlook for a wet California winter. A lack of precipitation in December meant the snow reached barely 3 percent of the average for the Sierras this time of year. However, experts from the Department of Water Resources argue we shouldn’t jump to conclusions this early in the winter and the reservoirs are in good standing. The DWR’s Frank Gehrke has the details. And with some perspective on what the winter weather forecast looks like for Northern California, National Weather Service forecaster Jim Matthews joins the conversation as well.