Drought and worse-than-usual heat in summer forecast around California

NOAA: Summer outlook shows Redding, Victorville, Stockton, Salinas and other parts of California hotter than usual. Expect ...

Lake Oroville, California’s second-largest reservoir, is 99% full and rising

In a clear sign that California is not facing water shortages or a drought this summer, Lake Oroville, the state’s ...

Despite heavy April showers, drought just crept back into California

Scientists explain the mismatch.

Thousands of acres charred across the US as wildfires sweep the Plains, California with evacuations underway

Wildfires have scorched hundreds of thousands of acres across the Plains after days of severe storms sparked flames across ...

US government planning dramatic Colorado River water cuts due to drought, overuse

By Andrew Hay May 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. government has proposed a new water-sharing plan for the drought-stricken Colorado ...

Half of California is ‘abnormally dry,’ NOAA data shows

Abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions continue to spread across California, according to the latest update from the ...

This coming El Niño could be a monster. Will it bring epic rain to California this winter?

A super-strength El Niño appears to be taking shape in the Pacific Ocean, heightening concerns that Southern California could ...

Before and after: California's Lake Shasta water level on the rise

California's Lake Shasta continues to fluctuate near capacity, a level not seen in 15 years, thanks to recent storms after a ...
Orange County Register

The drought is over, but will state policies reflect the new reality?

On January 5, 2026, for the first time in 25 years, the entire state of California was declared drought free. The source of this welcome news was the federally funded U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM), a ...