SACRAMENTO – (INT) – State water officials wound-up their ‘water year’ this week. Data from the past 12 months confirm the severity of the 4-year drought.

The water year was also one of the warmest on record throughout the state contributing to the diminished Sierra snowpack.

The State Water Resources Control Board said most Californians did their part cutting consumption 30 percent compared to the same period last year.

California’s 154 reservoirs hold only 54 percent of their historic average.

There is now a 95 percent chance of a strong El Niño during the coming winter. Six strong El Niño events since 1950 produced wet conditions in Southern California, but only two brought significant precipitation throughout the state.

The State Department of Water Resources says it is too soon to know whether the building El Niño will be a drought-buster or simply a bust.

Story Date: October 8, 2015