California is drought-free for the first time in a quarter-century
Los Angeles Times••nation
Key Points:
- California has reached a milestone with zero areas of abnormal dryness for the first time in 25 years, following one of the wettest holiday seasons on record and a series of powerful winter storms and atmospheric rivers.
- The state's wildfire risk is currently very low, and 14 of California’s 17 major water reservoirs are at 70% or more capacity, alleviating immediate concerns about water supply.
- Despite this respite, climate scientists warn that climate change is causing more extreme weather swings, with both intense droughts and heavy rainstorms becoming more frequent due to the "atmospheric sponge effect."
- Recent weather patterns illustrate this effect, with extremely wet winters followed by dry periods that increase wildfire risk, as seen in the devastating fires of early
