A 'breather': Drenched California has no dry areas for first time in a quarter-century

"After experiencing one of the wettest holiday seasons on record, still soggy California hit a major milestone this week - having zero areas of abnormal dryness for the first time in 25 years. This data, collected by the U.S. Drought Monitor, is a welcome nugget of news for Golden State residents, who in the last 15 years alone have lived through two of the worst droughts on record, the worst wildfire seasons on record and the most destructive wildfires ever."

"Right now, the wildfire risk across California is "about as close to zero as it ever gets," and there is likely no need to worry about the state's water supply for the rest of the year, said UC climate scientist Daniel Swain. Currently, 14 of the state's 17 major water supply reservoirs are at 70% or more capacity, according to the California Department of Water Resources."

"California's last drought lasted more than 1,300 days, from February 2020 to October 2023, at which point just 0.7% of the state remained abnormally dry thanks to a series of winter atmospheric rivers that showered the Golden State with rain. Prior to that, California was in a record-breaking drought cycle from December 2011 to September 2019. But the last time 0% of the California map had any level of abnormally dry or drought conditions was all the way back in December 2000."

An exceptionally wet holiday season and a series of powerful winter storms and atmospheric rivers eliminated all areas of abnormal dryness across California for the first time in 25 years. Fourteen of the state's 17 major water supply reservoirs are at 70% capacity or higher, greatly reducing near-term concerns about water availability. Wildfire risk across the state is minimal, described as "about as close to zero as it ever gets." California's previous prolonged droughts included a 1,300‑day dry period from February 2020 to October 2023 and a record cycle from December 2011 to September 2019. Climate change is expected to intensify swings between heavy rainfall and extreme dryness, increasing extreme-weather variability and long-term fire risk.

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