California has long struggled with drought, with a severe drought from 2012 to 2016 that included the 30 driest months on record. While the intensity of droughts and locations have varied over the years, California has not been completely drought-free for over 2 decades. Now, after a series of atmospheric rivers and snowstorms, the entire state is officially drought-free. California had no levels of abnormal dryness starting the week of 12/30, according to the Drought Monitor, and has continued to have no areas of drought through this week.
The last time California was drought-free was in December 2000, so it is a major milestone for the state. California nearly met the drought-free designation in 2005 and 2011, but a few areas in the state still experienced abnormal dryness. While the drought-free status is a welcome change to many, the recent storms have caused flooding and damage in some areas.
Droughts can cause significant concern, affecting the water supply, which is vital for the health and safety of residents, along with major economic impacts. Given California’s years of drought experience, many residents are familiar with conserving water. Officials regularly monitor the snowpack levels in the mountains and reservoirs, among other factors, to manage California’s water supply. California has a very diverse landscape, with many arid, hot areas and major mountain ranges, making it necessary for officials to closely monitor the water supply. California and Nevada have launched a Drought Early Warning System (DEWS), collaborating with multiple agencies to monitor the water supply in the California-Nevada region to be prepared for any potential droughts.
You can also find more information on drought conditions across California on the Drought Monitor here. You can see the drought conditions in each region in California, along with data from the past year.