Wet February Almost Eliminates Drought In California
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- February storms have almost eliminated drought conditions from California.
The U.S. Drought Monitor said Thursday that just over 67 percent of the state is totally free of any level of dryness.
We anticipate widespread improvement or removal of #drought conditions across much of the West through the end of May, with the exception of the Great Basin. Drought is forecast to persist or spread for parts of Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. https://t.co/Tp4IHSdtWH pic.twitter.com/FFxmspLiK0
— NWS Climate Prediction Center (@NWSCPC) February 21, 2019
Just under 30 percent is classified as abnormally dry, and less than 4 percent remains in either moderate or severe drought.
The drought conditions are confined to a far northern area along the California-Oregon border.
Three months ago, more than three-quarters of the state was in moderate to extreme drought and the remainder was abnormally dry.
Another round of widespread precipitation is expected early next week, with best chances along and north of I-80. Stay tuned! #cawx pic.twitter.com/pGS7Ep9FYa
— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) February 21, 2019
Precipitation is continuing to fall Thursday as a cold but not very moist system impacts Southern California and showers linger on the Central Coast. Chances of rain return to Northern California during the weekend and early next week.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press.