Publication Date March 8, 2016 | San Jose Mercury News

California storms send billions of gallons of water into reservoirs

United States
From the top of the dam at Vasona Reservoir in Los Gatos, Calif., on Monday, March 7, 2016. Photo: Gary Reyes
From the top of the dam at Vasona Reservoir in Los Gatos, Calif., on Monday, March 7, 2016. Photo: Gary Reyes

This weekend's soaking rains delivered just what drought-weary Northern California needed: billions of gallons of water pouring into the state's major reservoirs -- and more predicted for later this week.

With rain totals reaching 10 inches or more in some mountain areas, 46 of the largest reservoirs in California, closely tracked by the state Department of Water Resources, collectively added 391 billion gallons of water between Friday and Monday morning -- enough for the needs of 6 million people for a year.