Publication Date February 18, 2016 | Capital Public Radio

'Considerable' Long-Term Drought In California

United States
Several December storms brought snow to the Sierra Nevada. This view is from December 4, 2015 at Donner Memorial State Park in Truckee, Calif. Image: Woranuch Joyce, Capital Public Radio
Several December storms brought snow to the Sierra Nevada. This view is from December 4, 2015 at Donner Memorial State Park in Truckee, Calif. Image: Woranuch Joyce, Capital Public Radio

Record high temperatures and a dry spell in California the past week has "renewed concerns of early snowmelt" in the Sierra and "considerable long-term" drought impacts remain. The Drought Monitor intensity levels are Abnormally Dry, Moderate, Severe, Extreme and Exceptional drought. This week in California: 99.7 percent is abnormally dry, 94 percent moderate, 81 percent severe, 61 percent extreme and 38 percent is in exceptional drought