Half of California out of Drought; More Rain Boosts Flood Risk

A man runs to his car during rainfall in Irvine, Calif., on Jan. 30, 2023. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Almost half of California is out of a drought, including San Francisco, Sacramento, and Los Angeles, according to data released by the U.S. Drought Monitor March 16.

But with so much Sierra Nevada Mountain snowpack, the possibility of new flooding is a concern, forecasters in the National Weather Service Office of Water Prediction warned.

According to the drought monitor, about 45 percent of the state is now out of a drought including nearly all of Central California.

But some swaths of Northern and Southern California remain in “abnormally dry” and “moderate drought” conditions.

Courtesy of the U.S. Drought Monitor

California has experienced severe drought conditions, off and on, since 2006, leading to water rationing and regulations, in urban and agricultural zones and unprecedentedly low reservoir levels statewide.

But its long-standing water woes took a positive turn after a series of storms that started in December. By mid-January, the mountain snowpack reportedly exceeded 200 percent, according to the National Weather Service.

According to the state’s water data, reservoirs that were once depleted are now filling up with some over 80 percent full—and groundwater reserves have received a significant boost.

Screenshot via California Department of Water Resources

Due to the excessive snowpack and other weather conditions, the National Weather Service warned March 16 that 146 millions of people nationwide are at risk of flooding, including millions of Californians.

More rain, according to forecasters, is expected next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Correction: A previous version of this article misstated the number of people with flood risk. The Epoch Times regrets the error.