California, the US state known for its sunshine and golden landscapes, has finally broken free from its 25-year-long spell of drought and dryness. The latest data from the U.S. Drought Monitor shows that zero areas of abnormal dryness now exist within the state, marking a significant milestone in the country's efforts to combat climate change.
This turnaround comes on the heels of an extremely wet holiday season, which has left California residents breathing a sigh of relief after years of drought and wildfires. The data collected by the U.S. Drought Monitor reveals that 14 out of 17 major water supply reservoirs are currently at 70% or more capacity, indicating a significant reduction in the state's water shortage concerns.
The University of California climate scientist Daniel Swain notes that the current wildfire risk across California is "about as close to zero as it ever gets," and there is no need to worry about the state's water supply for the rest of the year. The recent series of powerful winter storms has showered the Golden State with rain, soaking soils, filling reservoirs, and leaving much of the state unusually wet for this time of year.
However, Swain also cautions that climate change is forecast to lead to more intense droughts and episodes of extreme rainfall in the future. This phenomenon is known as the atmospheric sponge effect, where a warmer atmosphere pulls more moisture out of soils and plants, deepening droughts, while holding more water vapor, which is then released in fewer but more extreme rainstorms.
The state's last drought lasted over 1,300 days, from February 2020 to October 2023. The recent sequence of wet and dry conditions that led to the devastating firestorm in January 2025 serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of California's climate.
While California is currently safe from water supply risks and wildfire danger for several months to come, residents can expect more extreme weather swings in the long term. With warmer-than-average temperatures and relatively little snow so far this winter, the West continues to face strain on its water sources, including the Colorado River, a major source of water for Southern California.
As the state basks in the relief of no longer being under drought conditions, it is essential that residents remain vigilant about the long-term effects of climate change. The atmospheric sponge effect will continue to lead to wider swings between extremely wet and dry conditions, making it crucial to prepare for the unpredictable future ahead.
This turnaround comes on the heels of an extremely wet holiday season, which has left California residents breathing a sigh of relief after years of drought and wildfires. The data collected by the U.S. Drought Monitor reveals that 14 out of 17 major water supply reservoirs are currently at 70% or more capacity, indicating a significant reduction in the state's water shortage concerns.
The University of California climate scientist Daniel Swain notes that the current wildfire risk across California is "about as close to zero as it ever gets," and there is no need to worry about the state's water supply for the rest of the year. The recent series of powerful winter storms has showered the Golden State with rain, soaking soils, filling reservoirs, and leaving much of the state unusually wet for this time of year.
However, Swain also cautions that climate change is forecast to lead to more intense droughts and episodes of extreme rainfall in the future. This phenomenon is known as the atmospheric sponge effect, where a warmer atmosphere pulls more moisture out of soils and plants, deepening droughts, while holding more water vapor, which is then released in fewer but more extreme rainstorms.
The state's last drought lasted over 1,300 days, from February 2020 to October 2023. The recent sequence of wet and dry conditions that led to the devastating firestorm in January 2025 serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of California's climate.
While California is currently safe from water supply risks and wildfire danger for several months to come, residents can expect more extreme weather swings in the long term. With warmer-than-average temperatures and relatively little snow so far this winter, the West continues to face strain on its water sources, including the Colorado River, a major source of water for Southern California.
As the state basks in the relief of no longer being under drought conditions, it is essential that residents remain vigilant about the long-term effects of climate change. The atmospheric sponge effect will continue to lead to wider swings between extremely wet and dry conditions, making it crucial to prepare for the unpredictable future ahead.
finally some sunshine in Cali! 25 years of drought is a looong time, but I guess all that rain we had over the holidays did the trick 
. Glad to hear water supply's not a worry for now, but yeah, climate change is gonna mess with our weather patterns even more... atmospheric sponge effect, yikes! 
can't just rely on one good rainy season to fix everything 
.
. But at the same time, I'm low-key worried about what's gonna happen in the long run... climate change is like, super unpredictable, you know? 
. Can we really prepare for the future and be ready for more extreme weather swings? 
Maybe we should all just be like Marty McFly from Back to the Future and hope that time travel comes through for us 
!
️! its so awesome that all 17 major water supply reservoirs are at 70% or more capacity now 
. still, this is such a great milestone for california - hope everyone gets to enjoy the relief for a while 
The latest data is like, super reassuring - zero areas of abnormal dryness? That's huge! 
And I'm loving how the wet holiday season has left everyone with a sigh of relief after all those wildfires. It's like, a big ol' breath of fresh air 
But seriously, we need to stay vigilant and prepare for those wild swings between dry and wet - the atmospheric sponge effect is real! 
.
. Those intense wildfires in January were super scary and it's crazy to think how unpredictable California's weather can be now 
just heard the news that CA is finally out of drought mode! 25 years is like, forever 
i'm so glad the recent winter storms brought some much-needed rain & water to the state 
anyway, gotta stay aware of the atmospheric sponge effect 
I mean, 25 years is like, forever! It's crazy how fast the weather can change here in Cali. But seriously, it's awesome that the drought is over for now and people can finally enjoy some sunshine without worrying about water shortages.
. It's like the state's weather is just playing a never-ending game of "drought or deluge" 
you guys have been through so much with the drought and wildfires i can only imagine how relieved everyone must be right now 
. Climate change is real, folks, and it's only going to get weirder from here. I'm just glad that California is experiencing a bit of a reprieve, but we need to stay vigilant about the long-term effects.
This is exactly what's happening in California - nature is finally coming back after years of drought. But we can't let our guard down for a second! Climate change is real and it's only getting worse, so we need to stay prepared for the unpredictable weather swings ahead 
. And can we talk about how this relates to the Colorado River situation? That's a whole different can of worms 
.