California water data shows change for typically drier months ahead

The state has dealt with recent years of drought conditions, but multiple atmospheric rivers have caused higher-than-normal water levels.

California and other parts of the U.S. West have suffered through dry drought conditions in recent years, wreaking havoc on farming and causing concern for the future among officials. Now, after data on water levels released by California's Department of Water Resources shows strong water levels across the state, reservoirs may be able to get typically drier parts of the country through what has been a difficult season historically. 

California's warm and dry summers mimic the Mediterranean's climate in some areas more than the climate found in much of the United States — and of course California's northern and southern halves have their own distinctions when it comes to climate in that large state. 

Water reclamation officials in California routinely deal with an environment where a large portion of the state's precipitation — an average of 75% each year — falls in the weeks and months between November and March. That precipitation is made up of rain, snow and hail. 

As the winter begins to end, time will tell if weather forecasts show more support for keeping the state's reservoir levels elevated as they are now, according to data released on Feb. 29. 

State officials with the California Data Exchange Center released level charts for at least 18 reservoir localities across the state, including for McClure, Castaic, Casitas, Cachuma, Don Pedro, New Melones, Sonoma, Trinity, Camanche, Folsom, New Bullards Bar, Oroville, San Luis and Shasta. All of those localities appeared to have water levels which had improved.