California Declared Totally Drought Free For First Time in Seven Years

California was declared totally drought free for the first time in more than seven years this week, following unusually abundant winter rains and snowfall statewide, according to the government's weekly report on U.S. drought conditions. From a report: The U.S. Drought Monitor's latest survey reflected an astonishing turnaround - at least for now - from a severe, prolonged dry spell that reduced irrigation supplies to farmers, forced strict household conservation measures and stoked a spate of deadly, devastating wildfires. A relatively small swath of California's southern-most region, including most of San Diego County, remains labeled "abnormally dry" on the drought map index, as does a tiny patch at the state's extreme northern end along the Oregon border. But this week marks the first time since mid-December of 2011 that 100 percent of the state has been classified as being free of drought, defined as a moisture deficit severe enough to cause social, environmental or economic ills. Conditions were classified as normal across 93 percent of the state.

Comments

Climate change

[Kohath]

I've been told wet weather is a sign of climate change. Two years ago, drought was a sign of climate change. It's an all powerful phenomenon that explains everything.

Re:Climate change

[mopower70]

I've been told wet weather is a sign of climate change. Two years ago, drought was a sign of climate change. It's an all powerful phenomenon that explains everything.

I've been told the inability to track a straight line is a sign of poor alignment in a car. I've also been told that difficulty in turning is also a sign of poor alignment in a car. I've been told that the inability to stop is a sign of bad brake adjustment. I've been told that sudden jerky stops are also a sign of bad brake adjustment. I've been told that an engine failing to heat up can be caused by a bad thermostat. I've been told that a car overheating can also be caused by a bad thermostat. Gosh, it's almost as if opposing extremes in a given system can be caused by the same thing!

Re:Climate change

[tlhIngan]

They started with "global warming", then we got a very cold season here so they change the tone to "climate change". I guess, climate changing is bad?

The problem is complexity. The climate is warming, so :global warming" is accurate. However, you tell that to Joe On the Street and he thinks it just means Alaska will be like California in the end so what's wrong with that?

The real truth is with the added heat energy, the climate will swing more wildly. One day you can enjoy a spring day, the next, you get 3 feet of snow dumped on you.

The use of climate change is meant to reflect that - the climate is changing, and the wonderful summer days you remembered as a kid was replaced with scorching hot heatwaves years ago. Plus, the word "change" is scary

Re:Climate change

[ClickOnThis]

"Understood?" No, you fail at understanding how oscillating systems behave. More energy leads to higher amplitudes.

Re:Leftist tears

[greythax]

This place has become a cesspool. Umpteen years ago when I started coming here, there was plenty of debate, but usually it had something to do with facts or or at the very least science. Comments like this would have been down modded into oblivion for being flaimbait. I dunno if mod bots are to blame or what, but it seems like the only posts you see if you browse at 2 are shitposts like this. That, or an anti science conspiracy. Slashdot used to be the best location on the internet to get detailed, informed conversation about any science topic there was. Now it is just a forum for superkendal and his sad asshole ac stalker to stroke each other for attention.

Does anyone have ANY suggestions for a nerd news site where the community hasn't become so toxic? I need a new haunt. I was hoping I could stick around until things got better, but I think I need to admit to myself that this place is dead. This crowd is just picking over the bones.