California Prepares for Extreme Weather Swings as New Water Year Begins

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – While California’s climate has always swung between dry and wet conditions, the past five years have proven what climate science has predicted: California must be prepared for extreme weather events of all kinds, even simultaneous drought and flood conditions.

As the new Water Year gets underway, Lake Oroville, the State Water Project’s largest reservoir, is currently 109 percent of average for this date, however there is uncertainty about conditions this winter. The latest outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Predication Center shows a 71 percent chance of La Niña conditions this fall, decreasing to a 54 percent chance in December through February. La Niña events have historically resulted in more dry than wet years, b