Major flooding no longer expected around growing Tulare Lake, California

After weeks of rain, Tulare Lake in California is now nearly the size of Lake Tahoe, but the worst flooding fears have subsided.
While the lake has grown dramatically and threatened nearby towns, warmer weather and human interventions like levee improvements and water diversions have reduced the risk of catastrophe.
The state has prepared emergency supplies in case of future storms, but current projections suggest the lake is unlikely to overtop levees or inundate communities.
The reemergence of the lake after decades highlights both the threats of climate change as well as opportunities for groundwater recharge and habitat restoration.
Officials are cautiously optimistic but remain vigilant as melting snowpack continues to feed the lake.