A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: The Devastating Effects of California’s Drought
California reservoirs are nearing capacity after months of unseasonably wet weather ended drought in many parts of the state.
Among the reservoirs that were once nearly empty but are now positively overflowing is the San Luis Reservoir, which was only about one-quarter full in early December and is now 98 percent full.
The reservoir is the fifth largest in California and is located near Los Banos in Merced County. Water is supplied by the State Water Project.
After wet weather the past few months, its level is now at 114 percent of its historical average, according to the LA Times.
At this time last year, the reservoir was less than half capacity and continued to lose water in the warmer months.
During November and December, it stabilized at around 25 percent. A year ago, before mild winter rains replenished supplies, the reservoir was at 10 percent capacity.
An atmospheric river is a narrow corridor of concentrated moisture or water vapor, carried by air from the tropics. They can bring with them significant bursts of rain.
The area around the reservoir has completely changed from a brown, dry landscape to a lush green due to rain, snow and flooding.
Statewide, reservoirs are currently at or above their historical average levels.
At the end of March, the state’s reservoirs were at about 73 percent capacity, four percentage points above the 30-year average of 69 percent.
In March, California was hit by violent storms with quarter-sized hail and devastating flooding that evacuated 10,000 people from their homes just weeks before — in a rare tornado warning for Fresno County.
In the heart of California’s gold rush, funnel clouds were spotted Saturday afternoon and the Weather Service issued a tornado warning for the Sierra Nevada foothills as severe thunderstorms, hail and high winds lashed the region.
Extreme weather has recently plagued California with excessive amounts of snow falling in both the Bay Area and the mountain ranges surrounding Los Angeles.
The state experienced 11 atmospheric rivers this season, storms that brought massive amounts of rain and snow to the state and helped alleviate drought conditions that had dragged on for three years.
Rainstorms threatened to cause flooding in Big Bear as snow from a 100-inch deposit began to melt and flow through residents’ yards.
Rocks and mudslides threatened highways that had been closed due to snow in previous weeks.
The snow blocked not only the major highways that connect the mountain to the greater Los Angeles area but also smaller residential streets between homes and supermarkets.
In March, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for more than a dozen counties, including San Bernardino, and sent support and resources to the snow-covered area to help with relief efforts.
In early March, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for more than a dozen counties, including San Bernardino, and sent support and resources to the snow-covered area to help with relief efforts.
Residents of the mountain range outside of Los Angeles have been battered by storms that have included nearly 10 feet of snow in recent weeks, leaving businesses closed, homes without power, and supply chains at risk.
At least a dozen people have been found dead after these storms blocked roads and left residents stranded.