January Storms Replenish California's Water Supply For Now

LOS ANGELES, CA — The January storms that drenched the Golden State proved to be a balm for a state scarred by the worst fire season in California history.

Just weeks into the new year, California’s reservoirs are almost full - many are well above average for this time of year thanks to an atmospheric river storm from the Pacific Ocean. It dumped half a foot of rain in some parts of the state last week and as much as five feet of snow in the Sierra. It was enough to overcome the dry months of November and December. And it’s a welcome development in a state that’s grown accustomed to the ravages of drought.

Roughly 580 billion gallons of water were added to the state’s water stores since Jan. 1, according to state officials. That’s enough to provide water to 9 million people for a year, according to The Mercury News.

The Sierra Nevada snowpack, too, is well above average. As of this week, the snowpack measured 115% of average - several times the level reached this time last year.

The coming week will be a dry one for much of California thanks to a high pressure system pushing moisture north, but forecasters and state officials alike are hopeful that February and March will prove to be wet as well. They’ll need to be because one wet January isn’t enough to get the state where it needs to be for the dry season.

“Right now, we’re doing OK,” Department of Water Resources spokesman Chris Orrock told the Los Angeles Times. “We had some good storms… that pushed our totals above average.

“We don’t know if we’re going to get any more rain the rest of the year,” Orrock added. “We’re only halfway through.”

As of now, Lake Perris in Riverside County and San Luis Reservoir in Merced County are near capacity. Lomond Reservoir serving Santa Cruz is 95 percent full, and Los Vaqueros Reservoir serving Contra Costa is almost full as well.

The East Bay Municipal Utility District reports that its reservoirs are 85 percent full. The difference is visible to the naked eye. Lakes and reservoirs across the state are several feet higher than they were at this time last year.

“We’re very happy to be where we are,” said Nelsy Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for East Bay MUD told the Mercury News.

However, state officials are still reminding residents to conserve thanks to California’s cycle of droughts.

“It’s not if, it’s when,” Orrock told the Times. “Turn off faucets. Only water your lawn every couple of days.”

Photo: Pedestrians make their way along a rain soaked Hollywood Blvd. in Los Angeles on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019. The latest in a series of Pacific Ocean storms pounded California with rain and snow Thursday, prompting officials to put communities on alert for mudslides and flooding and making travel treacherous. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)