SAN FRANCISCO — Incredible news for California’s water supply entering the new year – not a single square mile of California is categorized as dry for the first time in 25 years, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor.
Map of California’s Drought Monitor showing dryness from North to South.
As of December 30, 2025, California is effectively out of drought across almost the entire state, where 0% of the state’s total area is experiencing drought conditions, according to the California Drought Monitor on CalMatters.
Final storms in December 2025 pulled nearly 100% of the state out of drought.
As of January 8, 2026, measurements showed virtually no dryness remaining, marking an “exceptionally wet period” that has filled the state’s reservoirs to a healthy level. This news is the culmination of several years of strong rainfall.
The Golden State was first declared drought-free in years in 2023 after a winter deluge of storms and atmospheric rivers soaked the state in November and improved forecasts for 2025.
We have not had a similar scenario where there was not a single dry patch on that map for California since December 2000.
This means if you’re younger than 25, you’ve always been living in a world where California is either entering or recovering from drought.
Current systemwide reservoir capacity sees seven of 12 major state-owned reservoirs at 75% or higher capacity.
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