Publication: Associated Press

UCLA Expert: Daniel Swain: Assistant Researcher and Climate Specialist, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

Synopsis: Tremendous rains and snowfall since late last year have freed half of California from drought, but low groundwater levels remain a persistent problem, U.S. Drought Monitor data showed Thursday.

UCLA News: “Clearly the amount of water that’s fallen this year has greatly alleviated the drought,” Swain said. “It has not ended the drought completely but we’re in a very different place than we were a year ago.” The snowpack potentially could face threats such as early heatwaves or, as some forecast models have hinted, a warm atmospheric river that could cause melting and flooding. Swain said California is expected to remain cold and the likelihood of the atmospheric river is very low.

Read more at Associated Press.