Some Parts of California May Soon Be Drought-Free

Here's more weather changes to think about and debate whether the source is natural and cyclical or man made.  

Why is California in a drought?  Certainly a lack of rain is an obvious culprit.  Yet, we know, too, that a failure to properly use and conserve water is equally responsible for their current plight.

Perhaps they will get short term relieve in terms of heavy rains.  But it should not abate their new passion around efficiency and eliminating all non-essential use.  CA needs to continue their research, in combination with expertise from Israel, and investment in reusing gray water.   All superfluous outside use should be banned.

Droughts cause major economic disruptions.  Real estate values plummet as people flee hard hit areas.  Water is our most precious resource.  Let's conserve, find new sources, make a commitment to a permanent reduction in our over consumption.  Then our current scare will have served an invaluable, long-term appreciation and gain.

Some Parts of California May Soon Be Drought-Free

by Justin Worland                                          

But here's why the state will still need a lot more water

Some parts of California now suffering from drought may soon be relieved, thanks to El Niño-related precipitation expected in the coming months, according to new government forecasts. But the precipitation is unlikely to provide enough relief to the mountain regions that provide most of the water for agriculture and consumers throughout the state.

The forecast, produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shows “drought removal likely” in a small swath of the southeastern part of California by October 31.

NOAA meteorologists said last week that there’s a 90% chance of El Niño continuing through winter and an 80% chance of it persisting through early spring. If it does, the drought-free area in California could expand along the coast and in the southern part of the state, according to NOAA climate prediction center meteorologist Matthew Rosencrantz.

Read More: How the California Drought Is Increasing the Potential for Devastating Wildfires

Courtesy of NOAA Climate Prediction CenterA small area in the Southeastern part of California, mapped in green, is likely to see drought end by October.

Courtesy of NOAA Climate Prediction CenterA small area in the Southeastern part of California, mapped in green, is likely to see drought end by October.

 

But relief in those regions will do little to alleviate most of the drought’s worst effects. Most of the water used for consumer consumption and in agriculture comes from reservoirs in the north of the state, and forecasts don’t show those areas receiving a boost in precipitation. In fact, the state’s Department of Water Resources says that in Northern and Central California there’s “almost no correlation between precipitation and El Niño.”