The Blue State Conservative by Tom Williams
California had its driest start to a year since the late 19th century, raising drought and wildfire concerns heading into the summer. In data released Monday, NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information found January through April precipitation in the state was the lowest on record, dating to 1895.
The statewide precipitation of 3.25 inches was only 25% of average, topping the previous record-dry January through April from 2013, according to NOAA statistics. See this in the chart below and learn more here.
But California’s two largest reservoirs are at “critically low levels,” according to the May 5 Drought Monitor summary. Shasta Lake is at its lowest early May level since the drought of 1976-77, while Lake Oroville is only 70% of its early May average. California is in its third year of the latest drought, which accelerated in early 2020. See the California drought conditions in the chart below over the past two decades…
