The Golden State is Entirely Drought-Free for the First Time in 25 Years.
After a quarter-century span, every region of California is experiencing dryness. This milestone arrives after grueling years marked by a lack of precipitation that intensified fire dangers and strained its huge agribusiness.
A Chart Reveals Zero Dryness
A recent update from the federal monitoring program showed that California in its entirety is clear of drought or abnormal dryness. This shift resulted from weeks of heavy precipitation that helped fill major reservoirs like Oroville and Shasta far beyond their long-term norms.
“To those aged 25 and below you’ve spent your life in a world where California has been grappling with drought,” remarked a weather expert.
From Intense Storms to Wet Holidays
The path to this point included severe and lethal winter storms that struck the state in the not-too-distant past, resulting in extensive inundation, power outages, and deaths. Although that weather began to alleviate the drought, they did not eliminate it.
As late as late December, regions like Modoc County were considered abnormally dry. Heavy rains at the start of the new year washed away those remaining dry spots.
Essential Mountain Snowfall Remains a Concern
However, authorities caution that being out of drought is not the same as having no water worries. Recent measurements of the high-elevation snow show it at only about 70% of the historical norm.
This frozen reservoir, which provides about a third of the state's water supply as it runs off, is a critical factor for future water availability. Water officials stress that it is not yet time to draw conclusions for the coming year.
“The current pattern right now is increased rainfall over snowfall,” said a California water official. “We’d like to see the snow accumulation to pick up by the start of April so that we’re nearer to normal.”
While the drought map shows a clean slate, the next challenge is to maintaining this hard-won hydrological health for the rest of the year.
