How Small Is The Sierra Snowpack? Photo From Space Says It All

By David Mills

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

This one from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationmight be worth more than that.

The NOAA's Environmental Visual Laboratory has released two side-by-side photos taken from space showing the January 2013 and January 2014 snowpack.

The picture speaks for itself and confirms measurements taken earlier this month by the state Department of Water Resources showing the Sierra snowpack is 20 percent of average for this time of year.

It also comes as Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a drought emergency for California.

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