California is about to be hit by another unusual rain and snow storm that’ll add to many months of abundant moisture. California has had so much precipitation lately that almost all reservoirs in the state are running beyond historical averages and some are approaching capacity.
A prolonged period of unsettled and wet weather will impact California for the next week, with especially heavy rain and snow expected over the next 24 hours. Northern California will see the most precipitation from this next storm system, with more than 3″ rain likely. In the higher terrain, the heavy precipitation will fall as snow, with some areas seeing more than 2′ of snow. This mid-May snowstorm will further add to incredibly deep snowpack which will help keep the Golden State hydrated as we head into typically drier months.
The entire United States has been rather wet over the last few months, with the Drought Monitor reporting the least drought conditions across the country in the 20 years the monitor has existed. NOAA considers large parts of the west, central states, Great Lakes region, and the northeast as “extremely moist” with plentiful water sources available thanks in part due to a wet weather pattern over the country.
