The West's historic snow drought could bring water shortages, wildfires
The western United States experienced a severe snow drought this year, threatening the region's water supply and potentially setting the stage for its wildfire season.
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The western United States experienced a severe snow drought this year, threatening the region's water supply and potentially setting the stage for its wildfire season.
In the age of climate change and drought swings, California is setting a statewide water supply target for the first time to offset supply issues and help power 18 million homes. Ryan Yamamoto reports.
Current drought maps are showing California is drought-free for the first time in 25 years.
The snowpack in California and other western states is melting at a record-breaking pace, threatening an early start to the wildfire season and the persistence of drought conditions, authorities announced.
CBS News Bay Area meteorologist Darren Peck looks at a new study on "weather whiplash" and how it creates increasingly extreme swings between wet and dry weather.
Researchers say human-caused climate change dealt people an average of nearly six weeks of extra extreme heat in 2024, while also fueling more destructive storms.
Water managers in the South Bay entered into a deal that will add a huge amount to their storage by expanding the San Luis Reservoir in Merced County.
John Ramos reports on a landmark ruling spurred by environmental group that sued Sonoma County over a too liberal policy granting water well permits.
In what is being called a landmark court decision in Sonoma County, local officials are being ordered to put more thought into issuing permits for new wells.
Last year's snow deluge in California --, which quickly erased a two decade long megadrought -- was essentially a once-in-a-lifetime rescue from above, according to a new scientific study.
The land had been sinking so fast for so long that the canal was failing, so they built an entire new canal, but now that's sinking as well. It's a dramatic reminder that after two good years, California's water challenges still run deep.
The island home to Hawaii's capital may be surrounded by ocean, but years-long drought conditions, tourist activities and contamination are jeopardizing the island's only source of freshwater.
In the Central Valley, some districts say their groundwater recharge projects are getting squeezed as they await word on what kind of water deliveries they'll get this year.
There are concerns in the Central Valley that, despite two good years of rain, groundwater recharge projects may get squeezed. Wilson Walker reports from Fresno County. (4-4-24) Website: http://kpix.com YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/CBSSanFrancisco Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CBSSanFrancisco Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/KPIXtv Twitter: http://twitter.com/KPIXtv
Climate change means wine could soon have a higher alcohol content — but spoil faster and smell worse.
Managers of California's two main water storage and delivery systems on Friday announced increases to forecasted water allocations for millions of people and vast tracts of farmland.
Crawfish, the crustacean that looks like a tiny lobster and tastes like a salty combination of shrimp and crab has been hard to find this year because of a devastating drought. Janet Shamlian has more.
If built, the Sites Reservoir would divert flows from the Sacramento River upstream of the Delta. Wilson Walker tours the Sites site. (2-29-24) Website: http://kpix.com YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/CBSSanFrancisco Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CBSSanFrancisco Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/KPIXtv Twitter: http://twitter.com/KPIXtv
Northern California has seen a lot of rain in recent weeks, but this winter is also delivering something the state hasn't seen much of this century.
As the rain continues to fall, one Sonoma County town remembers three years ago when their water supply almost ran dry.
Despite last year's unusually wet winter, Trinity Lake in far northern California needed another big season of rainfall to undo years of drought. Wilson Walker reports. (2-18-24)
Crawfish are a Southern delicacy that are always in high demand - but this year, they're in short supply. The crustaceans are hard to find right now due to a devastating drought in the region, and that's hurting a lot of wallets in Louisiana. Janet Shamlian reports.
Water levels at most state reservoirs are about where they typically are for this time of year, including Lake Oroville now at 131% its historical average. Wilson Walker reports. 2-18-24) Website: http://kpix.com YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/CBSSanFrancisco Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CBSSanFrancisco Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/KPIXtv Twitter: http://twitter.com/KPIXtv
While the water year has had a slow start in Northern California there is still no talk of drought as last year's rain bounty keeps on giving. Wilson Walker reports. (11-17-23)
Curious visitors have flocked to the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge after images of the pink pond appeared on social media.
One person was taken to a hospital after an e-bike caught on fire inside a room in San Francisco on Saturday night, firefighters said.
A San Francisco tech billionaire is leading an effort to bring back local crab in time for Thanksgiving, arguing the issue is about more than tradition.
Jonathan Aranda hit a two-run single in Tampa Bay's three-run fifth inning and the Rays defeated the San Francisco Giants 5-1.
UC Berkeley hosted a conference for people who are imagining the true reach of human longevity.
Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to train the winner of the opening leg of the Triple Crown.
One person was taken to a hospital after an e-bike caught on fire inside a room in San Francisco on Saturday night, firefighters said.
A San Francisco tech billionaire is leading an effort to bring back local crab in time for Thanksgiving, arguing the issue is about more than tradition.
Jonathan Aranda hit a two-run single in Tampa Bay's three-run fifth inning and the Rays defeated the San Francisco Giants 5-1.
UC Berkeley hosted a conference for people who are imagining the true reach of human longevity.
Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to train the winner of the opening leg of the Triple Crown.
One person was taken to a hospital after an e-bike caught on fire inside a room in San Francisco on Saturday night, firefighters said.
A San Francisco tech billionaire is leading an effort to bring back local crab in time for Thanksgiving, arguing the issue is about more than tradition.
It will go into effect at 11 a.m. and will remain through Sunday evening. The NWS said it was issued as there is an increased risk of sneaker waves and rip currents.
At the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University, an incredible collaboration is taking place between a 16-year-old high school student and the medical staff.
Police in San Francisco said a drone unit helped lead to the arrest of two people suspected of robbing a victim of their gold chain earlier this week.
UC Berkeley hosted a conference for people who are imagining the true reach of human longevity.
According to Oakland Fire, two people were seriously injured, three had minor injuries, and two people refused care. Their condition as of Saturday afternoon was not known.
Police said the investigation and arrests stem from a sideshow that happened on Sept. 25, 2025.
Hundreds of workers and labor advocates gathered in East Oakland on Friday to mark May Day, also known as International Workers' Day, using the annual event to call for a range of political and economic changes.
Three men were arrested after multiple Bay Area law enforcement agencies targeted child predators in a sting operation in Newark this week, police said Friday.
A Monterey County man is accused of multiple felonies, including attempted murder, human trafficking and weapons offenses, after he allegedly strangled a woman, authorities said.
Police in San Jose released sketches of two suspects as they seek to solve the cold case killing of a teenager.
Archaeologists are learning more about one of the oldest Chinese villages in California history, which is part of this reporter's own heritage.
A wayward sea lion pup that was found in the middle of a street in Sunnyvale last month has been rehabilitated and released into the wild, authorities said Thursday.
A man wanted for vandalism on California's Central Coast was arrested by European authorities in connection with an alleged terror attack in Czechia, authorities said.
A whale washed ashore on the Mendocino County coast, as researchers say the numbers of reported whale deaths appear to be rising on the West Coast.
Authorities in Sonoma County are seeking help from the public after a series of copper wire thefts have led to phone and internet service disruptions in the western part of the county.
A rock climber at a remote coastal area in Sonoma County who needed medical assistance after a fall was rescued by a helicopter crew over the weekend, authorities said.
Police in Santa Rosa have arrested a man on multiple felony charges after he allegedly slashed the tires of dozens of vehicles in a neighborhood.
Police are offering a reward for the public's help following an armed robbery and shooting at a Santa Rosa market over the weekend.
Jonathan Aranda hit a two-run single in Tampa Bay's three-run fifth inning and the Rays defeated the San Francisco Giants 5-1.
Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to train the winner of the opening leg of the Triple Crown.
Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero homered to back six strong innings from Shane McClanahan and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the San Francisco Giants 3-0 on Friday night.
The Kentucky Derby saw a field of 18 horses Saturday in the first leg of the 2026 competition for horse racing's Triple Crown.
Kyle Schwarber hit a tying double with two outs in the ninth inning, Alec Bohm delivered with his glove and bat in the 10th, and the Phillies defeated the Giants 6-5 to sweep their split doubleheader.
According to Oakland Fire, two people were seriously injured, three had minor injuries, and two people refused care. Their condition as of Saturday afternoon was not known.
Police said the investigation and arrests stem from a sideshow that happened on Sept. 25, 2025.
Three men were arrested after multiple Bay Area law enforcement agencies targeted child predators in a sting operation in Newark this week, police said Friday.
A Monterey County man is accused of multiple felonies, including attempted murder, human trafficking and weapons offenses, after he allegedly strangled a woman, authorities said.
Police in San Jose released sketches of two suspects as they seek to solve the cold case killing of a teenager.
As AI-generated music spreads, Spotify says it wants to help users "trust the authenticity" of what they're listening to.
A memory chip shortage is driving up computer prices for consumers, reversing a decades-long drop in hardware costs.
The technology uses ultra-low sound waves as a way to extinguish a fire. It was just a theory until 2015, when a pair of students at George Mason University demonstrated the world's first sonic fire extinguisher.
The new Department of Motor Vehicles regulations allow law enforcement agencies to issue notices of traffic violations to autonomous vehicle companies when their cars commit moving violations.
Elon Musk alleges that OpenAI reneged on a promise to operate as a nonprofit dedicated to human progress.
An ice cream company based in the San Francisco Bay Area is recalling dozens of products after they were sold without labels disclosing potentially dangerous allergens.
Health officials in San Francisco announced Wednesday that an infant who recently traveled outside the United States has tested positive for measles.
A dead bat found at a Fremont home earlier this week has tested positive for the deadly rabies virus, according to authorities.
An East Bay woman is using the sport of pickleball to help find a cure for Parkinson's disease.
An unlicensed cosmetologist from Florida has been found guilty in a California court for providing an injection that killed a model who was known as a Kim Kardashian lookalike, prosecutors said.
Hundreds of workers and labor advocates gathered in East Oakland on Friday to mark May Day, also known as International Workers' Day, using the annual event to call for a range of political and economic changes.
May Day protesters disrupted access to the terminals at San Francisco and Oakland airports on Friday, authorities said.
Negotiations over a $500 million dollar government aid package for Spirit stalled after bondholders balked at the terms.
San Francisco is expanding availability of free and low-cost childcare for the city's working families, by adding hundreds of spots for infants and toddlers.
The longest shutdown of a federal department in U.S. history came to an end on Thursday when President Trump signed a bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security following a breakthrough on Capitol Hill.
Philz Coffee will once again sport the Pride flag at its cafés after a directive to have them and other flags removed created a backlash.
The Trump administration agreed to restore the Stonewall National Monument's Pride flag in Greenwich Village after it was removed.
Philz Coffee's move to remove the Pride flag and all other flags from their stores is brewing up some strong reaction.
Transgender women athletes are now excluded from women's events at the Olympics after the IOC agreed to a new eligibility policy on Thursday.
The Trump administration has given San Jose State University 10 days to change its policy on transgender athletes or face legal action and possibly lose federal funding.
At Last Rites, the weekly gathering goes beyond simply watching a television show. For fans, it's an immersive experience, one that brings them closer to the world of "Survivor," and to each other.
Jake was at the funeral for one of his closest friends when he learned of his parents' deaths, he said.
Michael Tilson Thomas, the 12-time Grammy Award winning composer and famed conductor who led the San Francisco Symphony for a quarter century, has died.
Pop star Britney Spears has voluntarily checked into rehab following her DUI arrest in Ventura County in March, a representative for the singer told CBS LA.
Adrian Arias's work, entitled "Layers of the Mission: A Celebration of Memory and Resilience," is intended to bring attention to who he describes as real-life neighborhood heroes.
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oakland Unified School District has seen an alarming spike in the number of unhoused students in the school system who deal with a host of challenges far beyond what most children face.
Meteorologist and CBS News Bay Area's resident pilot Lt. Jessica Burch got a treat during Fleet Week, taking to the skies with one of the Blue Angels.
A Bay Area man discovered his devastating loss left him with a new opportunity to rethink how he lives -- follow his journey in virtual reality, 360-degree video.
A groundbreaking medical study involving the UCSF Medical Center has shown some colorectal cancer patients can safely skip radiation treatment and enjoy a potentially higher quality of life.
Every day, San Francisco bar pilot Captain Zach Kellerman goes through what might just be the world's most dangerous commute.
One person was taken to a hospital after an e-bike caught on fire inside a room in San Francisco on Saturday night, firefighters said.
This comes after a contractor accidentally leaked cement slurry into the drinking water line.
Here's a look at the weather forecast Saturday evening.
Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen says it's not just about restoring a San Francisco tradition, it's also about righting a wrong and speaking up for local fishermen.
John Ramos reports.
In 2025, KPIX is moving to a new community service award: the CBS News Bay Area Icon Award. Submit nominations for an outstanding community hero at kpix.com/icon.
It's the most wonderful time of the year for a South Bay woman who has played Mrs. Claus for more than 40 years for the children of North San Jose's Alviso District.
For residents of the Oakland Hills, the prospect of another wildfire always remains a concern. This week's Jefferson Awards winner has made it his mission to make the hills and other high-risk areas safer.
In East Palo Alto -- where state education numbers show more than nine in ten public school students are low income and more than half are English learners -- many are finding hope and connection at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula.
This week's Jefferson Award winner is Army veteran who continues to live a life of service into his 80s, by feeding hundreds of San Francisco families a week.
A Bay Area man who overcame tremendous obstacles to excel in school has made it his mission to gear up other students for success in the classroom and in life.
For Students Rising Above scholar Josh Collins it took moving across the country to realize the value of his Bay Area family.
Samir Hooker had to grow up fast after his stepfather was shot dead 12 years ago. Now he is watching over his mom and sister while attending UC Berkeley.
It's hard enough to graduate from one of the most prestigious schools in the country when you're the first in your family to go to college. Imagine doing that while you're also trying to protect your parents from being deported?
Some students who are the first in their families to go to college face the challenge of balancing a rigorous academic load while still working to help support their family back home.