Watch CBS News

Recent Storms Greatly Reduce Drought Conditions In California

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A very wet winter has greatly reduced drought conditions in California.

snow along highway 88 in amador county
State Route 88 at the Carson Spur in Amador County. (Stephen Ziehlke, Caltrans Dist. 10)Send us your photos! https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/your-weather-photos/

The U.S. Drought Monitor reports Thursday that more than 34 percent of the state including the Sierra Nevada, much of the Central Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area is free of any significant dryness.

ALSO: Scientists Develop Category System To Warn Residents About Strong Storms

The monitor says heavy rain has also removed most of the moderate drought that stretched from the Central Coast down through the southern tier of the state, leaving a lesser condition designated as abnormally dry.

Just about 10 1/2 percent of California -- in the far north and south -- is categorized as being in moderate or severe drought.

At the start of the year less than 8 percent of California was free of any drought or abnormally dry conditions.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.