California completely drought-free for the first time in 25 years [View all]

Source: Yahoo! News/The Weather Network

Fri, January 9, 2026 at 8:41 p.m. EST


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.

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.

Read more: https://ca.news.yahoo.com/california-completely-drought-free-first-014141836.html