Rains raise Northern California reservoir lake levels including at Berryessa

"A powerful series of atmospheric rivers has delivered a major boost to Northern California's reservoirs, with several lakes rising rapidly over just a few days as heavy rain and runoff poured into watersheds across the region. State water officials are watching closely, a massive jump at Lake Shasta, where water levels climbed 16 feet in six days, rising from just over 994 feet on Dec. 19 to 1,010 feet by Dec. 25, according to the California Department of Water Resources."

"But the rain doesn't make those kinds of distinctions, so the local reservoir is seeing just as much of an impact from the recent storms. Recent December rains in the Lake Berryessa watershed have caused the lake level to rise by more than a foot, reaching approximately 430.94 feet as of Friday morning. The lake reaches capacity at 440 feet. The ground around the lake is saturated, and that means any future rains will bring plenty of runoff and continued rising lake levels."

Atmospheric rivers delivered heavy rain and runoff across Northern California, producing rapid reservoir rises. Lake Shasta climbed 16 feet in six days, from just over 994 feet to 1,010 feet, and now sits above the historical average for late December. Shasta Lake provides flood control, water supply, and hydropower. Lake Berryessa recorded well over 5 inches of rain since Dec. 19 and rose more than a foot to about 430.94 feet, with capacity at 440 feet. Saturated soils mean additional storms will produce substantial runoff and further rises. NOAA and the National Weather Service project mixed January precipitation, drier in Southern California and near-normal elsewhere.

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