California is Fully Drought-Free for the First Instance in 25 Years.
For the first time in 25 years, every region of California is experiencing dryness. This landmark event arrives after grueling years marked by insufficient rainfall that intensified wildfire risks and strained its enormous farming industry.
A Chart Shows An Absence of Abnormally Dry Areas
The latest assessment from the national drought tracker confirmed that all of California is without drought or abnormal dryness. This change came after a period of above-normal rainfall that helped fill key lakes like Shasta and Oroville exceeding their long-term norms.
“If you’re 25 or younger you’ve always lived in a world where California has been grappling with drought,” remarked a climate scientist.
Following Powerful Weather to Rainy Seasons
The path to this point featured severe and lethal winter storms that battered the state in recent years, leading to widespread flooding, electrical failures, and tragic losses. Even though those events helped ease the drought, they weren't enough to erase it completely.
Even into late December, regions like the state's northeast corner were still classified as unusually parched. Subsequent downpours at the beginning of January eliminated those last vestiges of dryness.
The Vital Sierra Snow Is Below Average
But, authorities caution that drought-free conditions is not the same as complete water security. Current readings of the Sierra Nevada snowpack place it at approximately 70 percent of the historical norm.
This mountain snow, which supplies about a third of the state's usable water as it melts in the spring, is a critical factor for future water availability. Water officials point out that it is too early to make predictions for the coming year.
“What we are observing right now is increased rainfall over snowfall,” explained a California water official. “Our hope is for the snow accumulation to pick up by the start of April so that we’re approaching the typical mark.”
Even as the official status indicates no dryness, the next challenge is to sustaining this positive water situation for the rest of the year.
