California has experienced heavy rainfall and snowfall in the past few weeks, further intensifying an already wet winter season. This extreme precipitation has helped to alleviate the long-standing drought in the state, which was previously experiencing the driest three-year period on record.
Source: PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State UniversityNote: The first map shows the percent of average precipitation received between Jan. 2020 and Nov. 2022; the second map runs through March 13, 2023.
Heavy precipitation in California has caused flooding, power outages, and damage to infrastructure, leaving many Californians still recovering from January's storms. However, the deluges have also provided some relief to the state's long-term drought by replenishing reservoirs and building up snowpack.
The U.S. Drought Monitor reported a reduction in drought coverage and intensity across California and nearby regions. Despite the improvement, experts warn that the state's water issues are far from resolved.
Long periods of drought and heavy rain are common in California, and its water infrastructure was designed to manage the imbalanced timing of precipitation. However, a warming climate is increasing weather extremes, making it harder to capture and store water.
The recent storms have refilled many reservoirs, with some even surpassing average levels for this time of year, but there is still work to be done to address California's water challenges.
