"As water restrictions intensified, a miracle winter in early 2023 brought a parade of atmospheric river storms, with the biggest Sierra snowpack in 40 years. Another wet winter followed in 2024. And while it was dry in Southern California last winter, contributing to the conditions that led to the Los Angeles fires, it was wet in Northern California. This winter, the rain has landed across the state, filling reservoirs and leaving hillsides and lawns green from San Diego to San Jose to Redding."
"Such weather whiplash is exacerbated by climate change, scientists say, because hotter temperatures make droughts more severe while also causing more water from the ocean to evaporate into major storms that are able to reach California when conditions are right. How will this winter end up? Nobody knows. The rainy season normally ends in April. Accurate weather forecasts can only be projected out for about 10 days."
California experienced rapid swings in precipitation from near‑no drought in early 2020 to statewide drought and extreme drought by mid‑2021, followed by record storms in 2023 and another wet winter in 2024. Recent statewide rainfall has replenished reservoirs and greened landscapes, returning drought status to none. Climate change intensifies such weather whiplash by amplifying drought severity through higher temperatures and by increasing atmospheric moisture that fuels larger storms. Seasonal forecasts remain uncertain beyond about ten days and the rainy season typically ends in April. Current water supplies are strong, and widespread restrictions are unlikely this summer.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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