Daniel Swain: Christian Science Monitor—’This is just unreal’: California deals with epic snowfall

“If we can get through the rest of the season without any more roof collapses or snowmelt floods it will be quite a boon,” Mr. Swain said.

The snowpack potentially could face threats such as early heatwaves or, as some forecast models have hinted, a warm atmospheric river that could cause melting and flooding. Mr. Swain said California is expected to remain cold, and the likelihood of the atmospheric river is very low.

“I think that snowpack is going to take well through the summer to melt and … some shaded patches might still be there next autumn,” he said.