California is Entirely Drought-Free for the First Instance in 25 Years.

After a quarter-century span, not a single part of California is facing dryness. This milestone arrives after grueling years marked by insufficient rainfall that worsened blaze threats and challenged its huge agribusiness.

A Map Shows No Abnormally Dry Areas

Thursday's report from the U.S. Drought Monitor showed that California in its entirety is free from any level of drought. This development was driven by a period of above-normal rainfall that replenished major reservoirs like Shasta and Oroville far beyond their typical levels.

“If you’re 25 or younger you’ve only known in a world where California has been in or emerging from drought,” remarked a weather expert.

Following Powerful Weather to Soggy Celebrations

The journey here featured severe and lethal winter storms that battered the state in the not-too-distant past, resulting in extensive inundation, blackouts, and deaths. Even though those events began to alleviate the drought, they fell short of ending it.

Until late December, regions like northeastern California were still classified as abnormally dry. Heavy rains at the beginning of January finally erased those last vestiges of dryness.

The Vital Sierra Snow Remains a Concern

Yet, hydrologists note that drought-free conditions is not the same as having no water worries. Current readings of the Sierra Nevada snowpack show it at approximately 70 percent of the typical level.

This snowpack, which provides approximately 30% of the state's water supply as it runs off, is a key piece for the year ahead. Hydrology managers have emphasized that it is premature to make predictions for the coming year.

“What we are observing right now is increased rainfall over snowfall,” said a hydrology section chief. “Our hope is for the snow accumulation to increase by the start of April so that we’re closer to average.”

While the drought map shows a clean slate, the next challenge is to maintaining this hard-won hydrological health during the rest of the year.