Summary
California water officials report that the state's reservoirs have water levels near or above average despite warnings of future extreme weather, including drought and floods, as the state enters a new water year. There is a high chance of La Niña occurring this fall, which could bring dry weather and intense storms.
Key Facts
- California's largest reservoir, Lake Oroville, is at 109% of its average capacity.
- The state faces potential weather challenges from droughts and floods due to climate variability.
- A La Niña event, which often brings dry weather, has a 71% chance of developing this fall.
- In 2023, Lake Oroville's water level was 2,587,306 acre-feet at the start of the water year, lower than its historical high in 2011.
- State agencies are preparing for potential floods by storing over 4.3 million sandbags.
- Several large reservoirs in California are above average capacity for this time of year.
- The water year in California starts on October 1 and ends on September 30 the following year.
- California's residents can check real-time reservoir and weather data on the California Water Watch portal.
