US EditionA ‘Breather’: Drenched California Has No Dry Areas for First Time in a Quarter-Century
California's reservoirs are at healthy levels with seven of 12 major reservoirs above 75% capacity, driven by above-normal rainfall and late-season storms, U.S. Drought Monitor reports.
- The U.S. Drought Monitor's weekly update on Thursday showed no areas of California in drought, the first time since December 2000.
- Since Oct. 1, a very wet start to the water year has produced above-normal rainfall, with Sacramento and Redding at 140% of normal and many cities doubling rainfall, leading to drought recovery.
- The 8-Station Index shows 32.8 inches of precipitation across north and central Sierra, while California statewide snowpack is 91% of average for the date but only 38% of peak.
- Measurements as of January 8, 2026 showed virtually no dryness remaining and healthy reservoir levels, with California water managers welcoming the drought-free status despite residents in flood-affected regions still recovering; U.S. Drought Monitor forecasts suggest the wet stretch may last weeks but flags dryness next week.
- Experts note that the U.S. Drought Monitor is imperfect but the water year is off to a wet start, with 130 Sierra monitoring stations reporting 6.5 inches of snow-water equivalent, 91% of the average.
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The Columbian
arcamax.comA ‘breather’: Drenched California has no dry areas for first time in a quarter-century
LOS ANGELES — 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. Read more...
California is drought-free for the first time in 25 years: U.S. Drought Monitor
For the first time in 25 years, California is drought-free, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor. The last time this happened was December 2000. Due to the very wet start to the water year, which started on Oct. 1, many parts of California have doubled, tripled, or in some cases close to quadrupled their normal rainfall, NBC 7 Meteorologist...
California is completely drought-free for the first time in a quarter-century. Inside the remarkable turnaround.
After experiencing one of the wettest holiday season on record, still soggy California hit a major milestone this week — having zero areas of abnormal dryness for the first time in 25 years.
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