🔗 Share this article California is Entirely Drought-Free for the First Instance in 25 Years. For the first time in 25 years, every region of California is facing drought conditions. This landmark event comes on the heels of challenging years marked by below-average rain that exacerbated fire dangers and pressured its enormous farming industry. A Map Shows An Absence of Dryness A recent update from the federal monitoring program showed that the entire state is clear of drought or abnormal dryness. This change was driven by a period of above-normal rainfall that topped up key lakes like Shasta and Oroville far beyond their typical levels. “If you’re 25 or younger you’ve always lived in a world where California has been entering or recovering from drought,” remarked a weather expert. Following Powerful Weather to Soggy Celebrations The journey here featured severe and lethal winter storms that struck the state in the not-too-distant past, resulting in extensive inundation, electrical failures, and fatalities. Although that weather helped ease the drought, they weren't enough to erase it completely. Until late December, regions like the state's northeast corner were still classified as abnormally dry. Heavy rains at the beginning of January finally erased those remaining dry spots. A Crucial Snowpack Is Below Average Yet, experts warn that drought-free conditions does not mean having no water worries. Latest data of the high-elevation snow indicate it is roughly seven-tenths of the typical level. This frozen reservoir, which provides about a third of the state's water as it melts in the spring, is a key piece for the year ahead. Hydrology managers have emphasized that it is premature to make predictions for the coming year. “The trend we’re looking at right now is more rain than snow,” explained a California water official. “The goal is the snow accumulation to increase by 1 April so that we’re closer to average.” Although the monitor shows a clean slate, attention turns to sustaining this precious water balance throughout the rest of the year.
For the first time in 25 years, every region of California is facing drought conditions. This landmark event comes on the heels of challenging years marked by below-average rain that exacerbated fire dangers and pressured its enormous farming industry. A Map Shows An Absence of Dryness A recent update from the federal monitoring program showed that the entire state is clear of drought or abnormal dryness. This change was driven by a period of above-normal rainfall that topped up key lakes like Shasta and Oroville far beyond their typical levels. “If you’re 25 or younger you’ve always lived in a world where California has been entering or recovering from drought,” remarked a weather expert. Following Powerful Weather to Soggy Celebrations The journey here featured severe and lethal winter storms that struck the state in the not-too-distant past, resulting in extensive inundation, electrical failures, and fatalities. Although that weather helped ease the drought, they weren't enough to erase it completely. Until late December, regions like the state's northeast corner were still classified as abnormally dry. Heavy rains at the beginning of January finally erased those remaining dry spots. A Crucial Snowpack Is Below Average Yet, experts warn that drought-free conditions does not mean having no water worries. Latest data of the high-elevation snow indicate it is roughly seven-tenths of the typical level. This frozen reservoir, which provides about a third of the state's water as it melts in the spring, is a key piece for the year ahead. Hydrology managers have emphasized that it is premature to make predictions for the coming year. “The trend we’re looking at right now is more rain than snow,” explained a California water official. “The goal is the snow accumulation to increase by 1 April so that we’re closer to average.” Although the monitor shows a clean slate, attention turns to sustaining this precious water balance throughout the rest of the year.