SACRAMENTO – (INT) – California’s so-called rainy season is showing early signs of living up to reality this season.

November wound up with a pair of soaking storms that hit Southern California. October’s rainfall was slightly above normal. Much of it was soaked up by the state’s drought-dried soil, although water from subsequent storms could increase runoff into streams and reservoirs.

Still early in California’s rainy season, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) has announced its initial water allocation for next year of ¬¬20 percent of the requests by the 29 public agencies served by the State Water Project (SWP).

Winter storms may boost the initial allocation, but California’s deep drought lingers.

“October’s storms and subsequent rainfall have brightened the picture, but we could still end up in a sixth year of drought,” said DWR Director Mark Cowin. “Our unpredictable weather means that we must make conservation a California lifestyle.”

Story Date: December 1, 2016