Overview
- NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center puts the chance of La Niña this fall at 71%, and state climatologists warn of long dry spells punctuated by strong atmospheric rivers.
- Major reservoirs are slightly above average for the date, with Lake Oroville at 109% of average, providing modest surface water cushion.
- Groundwater remains strained, with about 27% of monitoring wells below average and 53 dry wells reported, as DWR expands statewide monitoring to protect supplies.
- DWR is ramping up flood preparedness through trainings, nearly 200 flood‑fight containers stocked with millions of sandbags, and investments in levee repairs.
- Officials report federal Bureau of Reclamation staffing cuts have reduced snow and stream measurements and some National Weather Service forecasting support, while outlooks show Jan–Mar precipitation near to slightly below normal and La Niña typically drier in Southern California and cooler, wetter in the north.