California completely drought-free for the first time in 25 years
The state has seen significant precipitation from a series of atmospheric rivers since late last year
It’s a major milestone in one of the continent’s most fire-prone regions.
No corner of California was abnormally dry or mired in drought at the start of the new year, marking the first time we’ve seen this momentous atmospheric accomplishment in a quarter of a century.
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California has seen bountiful precipitation
A series of atmospheric rivers washed over the western shores of the U.S. and Canada during the closing weeks of 2025, alternating up and down the coast from southern California to northern British Columbia.
Many of the more potent feeds of moisture slammed into California with ample rains and occasional bouts of intense mountain snowfall.
The Jan. 6, 2026, update of the United States Drought Monitor showed California completely free of abnormally dry or full-on drought conditions. This marks the first time the state was entirely clear of a noteworthy precipitation deficit since late-December 2000.
Vast swaths of California saw above-seasonal precipitation totals through the months of November and December.
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Los Angeles recorded 183.9 mm of rain during that two-month period, a total that’s 237 per cent higher than normal.
Fresno, which is nestled in the heart of the state’s Central Valley, picked up 185 per cent of its normal rainfall with 125.5 mm of precipitation in the gauge between November and December.
The high-elevation community of Tahoe City saw 385.6 mm of precipitation between rain and snow, notching 165 per cent of its average precipitation during the final two months of the year.
A much-needed break from years of drought
This week’s analysis is a breath of fresh air for a state that’s frequently plagued by drought. Just three months ago, more than one-third of California continued to endure a moderate drought or worse.
California recently dealt with two historic, yearslong spells of high-end drought conditions. The first began in late 2013 and continued through the end of 2016, while the second began in mid-2020 and persisted until early 2023.
Extreme aridity has taken its toll on the region. Seven of California’s ten-largest wildfires have occurred since 2020, collectively consuming about 1,570,679 hectares of land.
To put that into context, the land consumed by those seven fires amounts to more than twice the total size of the Greater Toronto Area, and more than 19 times the size of the City of Calgary.
Header image created using graphics and imagery from Canva.