. >> reporter: this is frank gierke of california's department of water resources and this is phillip's station, california's most photographed snow course. it is where every month in winter, frank measures water content while trail and photographed by reporters representing curious noose outlets from across the state. >> a lot of science is somewhat ritualistic in that it is repetitive. >> reporter: hence the plunging and measuring, the same spot for more than half a century here. >> the whole idea is to eliminate any variability apart from the water content. >> reporter: the basin of the snow already melting. what began as a wet weather, fueled by el nino, just plain stalled last month. here, the snow depth measured 58.3 inches. to summarize, the content level is 105% of normal, better than last year and better than a lot of other spots here in california. but if we were to ask frank gierke -- if you could talk to el nino, what would the message be? >> pretty poor performance considering the hype. >> reporter: translated, californians will not be dying of thirst this summer and won't

after 35 years, we could also call it the frank gierke show. he's the guy pushing down the plunger, then measuring the snow for depth and weighing it for water content. >> a lot of scientists are ritualistic in that it is repetitive. >> reporter: they use the same equipment in the same spots on the first tuesday of every winter month. >> the whole idea is to eliminate any variability apart from the water content. >> reporter: the reality this winter, not as food as hoped. sometimes pretty pictures pour tend bad news. that water used to be snow, then it's melting early. what began as a wet winter, el nino stalled last month. here at phillip's station, depth measured 58.3 inches. if you could talk to el nino, what would the message be? >> pretty poor performance, considering the hype. >> reporter: translaided -- translated, californians will not be dying of thirst this summer, but the drought continues. wayne freedman, "abc7 news." >> not what we were hoping for. >> but we should get help with the rain tomorrow. >> sandhya, how much? >> a quarter