(SACRAMENTO - (INT) - Three of California's four usually wettest months are past and the state remains in a drought.

Precipitation is modestly above average, as is the Sierra snowpack, and climatic conditions remain in El Nino mode. Northern California has benefitted the most.

The largest reservoirs are mostly fuller than a year ago, although not nearly to average conditions for this time of year. Groundwater is likely to be recharging, as it should this time of year in most places, but the deficit stubbornly remains.

So far, El Nino is delivering a somewhat above normal water year. But, overall 2016 drought conditions are likely to remain, according to an outlook issued Tuesday by the California Department of Water Resources’ California Data Exchange Center.

Across the Inland Empire, precipitation for January was above normal with only a few exceptions. Mountain communities scored the biggest improvement. But since the beginning of October, the National Weather Service reports precipitation below the 4-month normal.

Story Date: February 19, 2016