California is Entirely Free of Drought for the First Instance in Two and a Half Decades.
After a quarter-century span, every region of California is experiencing water scarcity. This landmark event follows difficult years marked by a lack of precipitation that worsened blaze threats and challenged its enormous farming industry.
A Chart Shows An Absence of Abnormally Dry Areas
Thursday's report from the federal monitoring program showed that the entire state is clear of drought or abnormal dryness. This shift was driven by multiple significant storms that topped up major reservoirs like Shasta and Oroville far beyond their long-term norms.
“If you’re 25 or younger you’ve only known in a world where California has been entering or recovering from drought,” noted a local meteorologist.
From Intense Storms to Rainy Seasons
The path to this point featured intense and deadly winter storms that pummeled the state in the not-too-distant past, resulting in widespread flooding, blackouts, and deaths. While those storms began to alleviate the drought, they fell short of ending it.
As late as late December, regions like northeastern California were deemed abnormally dry. Subsequent downpours at the beginning of January eliminated those remaining dry spots.
Essential Mountain Snowfall Is Below Average
But, authorities caution that being out of drought does not mean having no water worries. Recent measurements of the Sierra Nevada snowpack show it at approximately 70 percent of the average for this date.
This snowpack, which accounts for about a third of the state's water supply as it thaws later in the year, is a critical factor for future water availability. Hydrology managers stress that it is premature to draw conclusions for the coming year.
“What we are observing right now is increased rainfall over snowfall,” said a state water resources manager. “Our hope is for the snow accumulation to pick up by April 1st so that we’re approaching the typical mark.”
While the drought map indicates no dryness, the next challenge is to sustaining this hard-won hydrological health during the months to come.