California is Entirely Free of Drought for the First Time in a Quarter Century.

Following 25 long years, every region of the state is experiencing dryness. This landmark event comes on the heels of difficult years marked by insufficient rainfall that intensified blaze threats and challenged its huge agribusiness.

An Update Shows An Absence of Abnormally Dry Areas

Thursday's report from the U.S. Drought Monitor confirmed that the entire state is free from any level of drought. This development came after a period of heavy precipitation that helped fill major reservoirs like Shasta and Oroville exceeding their long-term norms.

“To those aged 25 and below you’ve only known in a world where California has been grappling with drought,” stated a weather expert.

After Severe Systems to Soggy Celebrations

Achieving this status involved powerful and fatal winter storms that battered the state in recent years, resulting in extensive inundation, electrical failures, and deaths. Although that weather started to mitigate the drought, they weren't enough to erase it completely.

As late as late December, pockets like the state's northeast corner were still classified as experiencing dryness. Heavy rains at the start of the new year eliminated those last vestiges of dryness.

The Vital Sierra Snow Is Below Average

But, experts warn that drought-free conditions does not mean having no water worries. Recent measurements of the high-elevation snow place it at approximately 70 percent of the historical norm.

This mountain snow, which accounts for about a third of the state's water supply as it runs off, is a critical factor for future water availability. State experts point out that it is not yet time to draw conclusions for the annual water supply.

“The trend we’re looking at right now is more rain than snow,” said a California water official. “The goal is the snow accumulation to increase by 1 April so that we’re approaching the typical mark.”

While the drought map shows a clean slate, the next challenge is to maintaining this positive water situation for the coming seasons.