California is free of drought conditions for the first time in 25 years

"The U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday, based on data valid as of Jan. 6, shows 100% of California classified as free of drought conditions, with no areas listed as abnormally dry or experiencing moderate, severe, extreme or exceptional drought. The last time the state reached that threshold was about 25 years ago on Dec. 26, 2000, according to meteorologist Dalton Behringer from the National Weather Service's Bay Area office. Currently California is the only state in the U.S. without any drought or abnormally dry conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor."

"Behringer said the California drought monitor reflects both short- and long-term conditions, and the current status is not the result of a single storm or even a single season. "It's just different parts of the state have had more good years than bad years," he said. In the Bay Area, he said, recent wet years helped erase lingering long-term deficits, while Southern California's improved conditions came later after receiving more precipitation this year."

"There was above-average precipitation across the state in recent months, with California receiving 14.39 inches of precipitation as of Jan. 7, or 155% of the average for that point in the water year, which started on Oct. 1. The average for the same period is 9.26 inches, based on records dating back to 1981, according to the California Department of Water Resources. While the early-season rainfall ranks among the wettest starts on record, it remains below the historical maximum of 18.43 inches measured by that date."

The U.S. Drought Monitor map valid Jan. 6 shows 100% of California classified as free of drought or abnormally dry conditions. The last time the entire state had no drought was Dec. 26, 2000. California is currently the only U.S. state without drought or abnormally dry areas. Three months earlier more than 70% of the state experienced some level of drought. Recent months brought above-average precipitation, with 14.39 inches as of Jan. 7, or 155% of the seasonal average of 9.26 inches based on records since 1981. The wet start ranks among the wettest but remains below the historical maximum of 18.43 inches. Improved conditions reflect multiple good years across different regions rather than a single storm.

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