Did California drought conditions improve with latest rain? Interactive map shows latest
Drought conditions slightly improved in parts of California, compared to one week ago.
The U.S. Drought Monitor — in a weekly update published Thursday — reports the majority or 84.6% of the land in at least “moderate drought,” a nearly five percentage point decrease from last week. The “severe drought” status increased less than one percentage point, while other conditions across the Golden State remained the same for the fourth week in a row.
In other words, California continues to reap the temporary benefits of a wet January and some February rain; it doesn’t mean that the drought is over.
The U.S. Drought Monitor reports roughly 99.4% of California remains at least “abnormally dry.” The state is free of both “extreme” or “exceptional” drought.”
California’s Central Coast, which was devastated by the severe storms in January, remains “abnormally” dry for the third week in a row but exited more intense conditions after the rain. In the northwest corner of the state, the majority of Del Norte County is drought free for at least the fourth the week in a row.
The data used in this interactive map, collected from the U.S. Drought Monitor, was updated Thursday. Here are the drought conditions in California. See where your area lands:
When will it rain and snow again in California?
Dry weather in parts of Northern California will be interrupted with weak rain Friday night and Saturday.
In Sacramento, the forecast is clear and sunny with temperatures between the low 40s and the mid-60s until at least Wednesday.
If you have weekend plans in the mountains, be sure to check the forecast before you travel.
Light “quick hitting” snow will fall Friday evening to Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service’s Twitter page, with the possibility of minor impact on the roads.
Snowpack levels
According to the Department of Water Resources, 49 stations in the Central Sierra Nevada are reporting at 200% of normal on Thursday.
Peak snow season is generally on April 1. As of Thursday, snowpack throughout California is 138% of average.
This story was originally published February 9, 2023 at 10:28 AM with the headline "Did California drought conditions improve with latest rain? Interactive map shows latest."