Click here to read the full October 18, 2022 – Drought Status Update for California-Nevada

Key Points

• Water Year 2022 started wet with a strong atmospheric river and ended in continued drought due to almost no precipitation during January through March. 
• The past 3 Water Years have been the driest in the California record. Both California and Nevada remain in almost 100% moderate-to-exceptional drought.
• Both evaporative demand and lack of precipitation are drivers of the current drought since it began in October of 2019. Water Year 2022 had much lower evaporative demand than Water Year 2021, which limited the drying of the landscapes and helped mitigate fire risk.
• Drought impacts (e.g., pasture conditions, ecosystem health, water supply, recreation, fire potential) have intensified and expanded given back-to-back dry years. Drought preparedness is key.
• A ‘three-peat’ La Niña winter is forecasted for Water Year 2023, suggesting continued dry conditions in southern regions of California and Nevada. Extended range forecasts indicate the first atmospheric river of the Water Year will hit the west coast in the next 7 days.