https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-01-09/california-has-no-areas-of-dryness-first-time-in-25-years * News + Home Page + California + Election 2024 + Housing & Homelessness + Politics + Science & Medicine + World & Nation * Business + Artificial Intelligence + Autos + Jobs, Labor & Workplace + Real Estate + Technology and the Internet * California + California Politics + Earthquakes + Education + Housing & Homelessness + L.A. Influential + L.A. Politics + Mental Health * Climate & Environment + Climate Change + Water & Drought * Entertainment & Arts + Arts + Books + Stand-Up Comedy + Hollywood Inc. + The Envelope (Awards) + Movies + Music + Television + Things to Do * De Los * En Espanol * Food + 101 Best Restaurants in L.A. + Recipes * Image + Art & Culture + Conversations + Drip Index: Event Guides + Fashion + Shopping Guides + Styling Myself * Lifestyle + Health & Wellness + Home Design + L.A. 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Times Store + LA Times Studios Capabilities + News App: Apple IOS + News App: Google Play + Newsroom Directory + Public Affairs + Rights, Clearance & Permissions + Short Docs * Advertising + Classifieds + Find/Post Jobs + Hot Property Sections + Local Ads Marketplace + L.A. Times Digital Agency + Media Kit: Why the L.A. Times? + People on the Move + Place an Ad + Place an Open House + Sotheby's International Realty * Special Supplements + Healthy Living + Higher Education + Philanthropy Copyright (c) 2026, Los Angeles Times | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection | Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information Sections Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article. Focus mode Show Search [ ] Search Query Submit Search Advertisement California California is free of all drought, dryness for first time in 25 years. Inside the remarkable turnaround A pedestrian in a raincoat carrying an umbrella is seen through a glass window covered with raindrops. A pedestrian carries an umbrella in Long Beach on Jan. 2. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Clara Harter staff headshot at LA Times Photo Studio in El Segundo, CA on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 By Clara Harter Staff Writer Follow Jan. 9, 2026 Updated 11:33 AM PT * * 99 * 5 min Click here to listen to this article * Share via Close extra sharing options + Email + Facebook + X + LinkedIn + Threads + Reddit + WhatsApp + Copy Link URL Copied! + Print 0:00 [0 ] 0:00 [100 ] 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here. * California has zero areas of abnormal dryness for the first time in 25 years after an exceptionally wet holiday season soaked the state. * Currently, 14 of the state's 17 major water reservoirs are at 70% capacity or higher and wildfire risk is minimal. * Despite the welcome relief, climate change is expected to intensify weather swings from heavy rainfall to extreme dryness in a cycle that can fuel catastrophic wildfires. After experiencing one of the wettest holiday seasons on record, still soggy California hit a major milestone this week -- having zero areas of abnormal dryness for the first time in 25 years. The data, collected by the U.S. Drought Monitor, is a welcome nugget of news for Golden State residents, who in the last 15 years alone have lived through two of the worst droughts on record, the worst wildfire seasons on record and the most destructive wildfires ever. Right now, the wildfire risk across California is "about as close to zero as it ever gets," and there is likely no need to worry about the state's water supply for the rest of the year, said UC climate scientist Daniel Swain. Currently, 14 of the state's 17 major water supply reservoirs are at 70% or more capacity, according to the California Department of Water Resources. Advertisement U.S. drought conditions About 45% of the country was experiencing at least moderate drought conditions on Jan. 6. No drought Abnormally dry Moderate drought Severe drought Extreme drought Exceptional drought Map of drought conditions in U.S. on Jan. 6, 2026 Denver Fresno Las Vegas Los Angeles U.S. Drought Monitor LOS ANGELES TIMES California's last drought lasted more than 1,300 days, from February 2020 to October 2023, at which point just 0.7% of the state remained abnormally dry, thanks to a series of winter atmospheric rivers that showered the Golden State with rain. Before that, California was in a severe drought from 2012 through 2016. Advertisement But the last time 0% of the California map had any level of abnormally dry or drought conditions was all the way back in December 2000. In recent weeks, a series of powerful winter storms and atmospheric rivers have swept across California, dumping heavy rain that soaked soils, filled reservoirs and left much of the state unusually wet for this time of year. "This is certainly a less destructive weather winter than last year was and than many of the drought years were, so it's OK to take that breather and to acknowledge that, right now, things are doing OK," Swain said. He noted, however, that "as we move forward, we do expect to be dealing with increasingly extreme [weather] swings." SUN VALLEY, CA - DECEMBER 24, 2025 - A truck plows through a flooded Lakershim Blvd. that was created by water being pumped away from a flooded I-5 freeway in Sun Valley on December 24, 2025. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) California SoCal's wettest Christmas holiday ever, and the intensifying drought-to-deluge cycle behind it Scientists attribute these extreme weather swings to climate change, warning of intensifying "hydroclimate whiplash" patterns globally. Dec. 26, 2025 Though it may seem counterintuitive, climate change is forecast to lead to both more intense droughts and more intense episodes of rainfall. This is because a warmer atmosphere pulls more moisture out of soils and plants, deepening droughts. At the same time, a warmer atmosphere holds more water vapor, which is then released in fewer, more extreme rainstorms. Scientists have coined a name for this phenomenon -- the atmospheric sponge effect -- which Swain said is "hopefully an evocative visual analogy that describes why as the climate warms we actually are likely to see wider swings between extremely wet conditions and extremely dry conditions." A key example of this effect is the weather pattern in the run-up to the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires last year. Encino, CA - January 13: A CalFire vehicle drives through the burned llandscape above in Mandeville Canyon as preparations are made to prevent more damage from the Palisade fire during the upcoming wind event on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025 in Encino, CA. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Climate & Environment How climate change worsened the most destructive wildfires in L.A. history The California fires erupted amid extremely dry conditions. UCLA scientists say extreme heat linked to climate change was a factor in the fires' intensity. Jan. 16, 2025 In 2022 and 2023, California experienced extremely wet winters. Mammoth Mountain, for example, set an all-time record for snowfall in the 2022-23 season. Advertisement But then Southern California experienced one of the driest periods on record in the fall and winter of 2024, which enabled the subsequent devastation of January 2025's firestorm. "We didn't even have to be in a notable multiyear drought to have that sequence of really wet to really dry conditions lead us to a place where the fire risk was catastrophic,"Swain said. Recent storms have brought snow to the Sierra Nevada mountains, but the state's snowpack remains below average. According to the Department of Water Resources, the snowpack now stands at 89% of average for this time of year. Much of the West has seen warmer-than-average temperatures and relatively little snow so far this winter. The snow in the Rocky Mountains remains far below average, adding to the strains on the overtapped Colorado River, a major water source for Southern California. Research published in the aftermath of the fire examines how this extremely wet to extremely dry weather sequence is especially dangerous for wildfires in Southern California because heavy rainfall leads to high growth of grass and brush, which then becomes abundant fuel during periods of extreme dryness. Fortunately, California should be clear of water supply risks and wildfire danger for several months to come, Swain said, but in the long term, residents should expect to see more of this weather whiplash. Advertisement Times staff writer Ian James contributed to this report. More to Read * Snow blankets the meadow wherethe California Department of Water Resources conducts the fourth media snow survey of the 2025 season at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada.The snow survey is held approximately90 miles east of Sacramento off Highway 50 in El Dorado County.Photo taken March 28, 2025. Ken James / California Department of Water Resources For the first time in 25 years, California has a snowpack trifecta April 2, 2025 * Illustrated map of California lush with green plants Californians' water usage is down 9% and other takeaways from The Times' updated water tracker July 22, 2024 * LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 04: People struggle with ponchos and umbrellas as they run between the red carpet of the Grammy's and a parking garage as another storm bears down at L.A. Live in Los Angeles Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Voices Editorial: L.A. may not get another wet winter for a while. We should prepare for drier times March 24, 2024 Show Comments CaliforniaThe LatestClimate ChangeWater & Drought Sign up for Essential California The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning. By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy. Enter email address [ ] Agree & Continue [] Clara Harter Follow Us * X * Instagram * Email Clara Harter is a breaking news reporter at the Los Angeles Times. Previously, she covered politics and education for the L.A. Daily News. She majored in political science and Middle Eastern studies at Columbia University. More From the Los Angeles Times * FILE - The Netflix logo is shown in this photo from the company's website, in New York, Feb. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) Hollywood Inc. Helped by 'Stranger Things' finale, Netflix lands strong fourth quarter * Jordan Addison sits on the Vikings bench between Justin Jefferson and Myles Price. 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