By DON THOMPSON
Associated Press
SODA SPRINGS, Calif. – A drought that loomed over some of California’s most fertile farmland officially ended Wednesday after a winter of relentless mountain storms that piled snow up to three stories high and could keep some ski resorts open until the Fourth of July.
More than 61 feet of snow has fallen in the Sierra Nevada high country so far this season, second only to 1950-51, when 65 feet fell, according to records kept by the California Department of Transportation. And more snow is possible in April, raising the prospect of an all-time record.
When it melts, the snow will bring relief to hundreds of communities and many farms that provide fruits and vegetables to the nation.