SACRAMENTO – (INT) – A wet and snowy December has segued into January and may set the stage for what’s ahead this winter – or not.

California’s winter is notorious for weather extremes. Some January’s have delivered abundant precipitation while others have been bone dry.

The latest map shows less of the state under extreme drought conditions mostly in the Central Valley and portions of Southern California.

But an atmospheric river is flowing into California unimpeded by the persistent high pressure system that fended off incoming storms last winter. It's almost as if La Nina and it's damp counterpart El Nino have switched roles.

The water content of the Sierra Nevada mountain snowpack is at 72 percent of average for this time of winter. The snowpack usually is at its deepest and most water-laden around April 1st. The statewide snowpack’s water content was just 61 percent of average at the beginning of December.

“California needs sustained above-average precipitation and a decent snowpack to overcome the previous years of drought,” State Climatologist Michael Anderson said.

Statewide Snowpack Water Content -- January 1 Average (10.2 inches)

Year Percent of January 1 Average

2002 162%
2003 162%
2004 142%
2005 159%
2006 117%
2007 61
2008 59
2009 78
2010 87
2011 209
2012 20
2013 137
2014 20
2015 47
2016 103

Story Date: January 24, 2017