KQED's The California Report California's Winter Storms Do Little to Ease Climate Change Worries
Feb 23, 2026
Kat Fullwider, a KUNR reporter who covered Truckee’s vigil, provides on-the-ground community response. Emily Zettner, a California Newsroom data journalist focused on climate and water, analyzes Sierra Nevada snowpack and warming impacts. They discuss recent storms, memorials after the avalanche, rising reservoirs, warming-driven snowline shifts, and why reduced snowpack still worries scientists.
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San Francisco Seeks Option To Leave PG&E
- San Francisco leaders plan legislation to let city customers move electricity service from PG&E to the city's Public Utilities Commission.
- Scott Wiener and supervisors aim to unveil the plan after December's multi-day outage affected 130,000 customers.
Truckee Vigil Honors Avalanche Victims
- Truckee held a candlelight vigil with nine blue wooden hearts after a deadly Sierra avalanche claimed nine lives.
- Residents left flowers, origami cranes, and shared hugs, reflecting the town's tight-knit backcountry culture.
Wet Reservoirs Don't Replace Sierra Snowpack
- California's recent storms raised reservoir levels above historic averages but may not replace lost mountain snowpack.
- Emily Zettner and Daniel Swain explain warm winters shift precipitation from snow to rain, raising the snow line and reducing Sierra snowpack storage.