Wednesday January 7, 2026
Phys —
When it rains, it pours. And that’s good news for California’s water supply.
After a relatively slow start to the winter rainy season, a series of atmospheric river storms has sent hundreds of billions of gallons of water pouring into reservoirs across California over the past three weeks, easing the concerns of water managers and significantly reducing the likelihood of shortages next summer.
Since Dec. 16, Shasta, the state’s largest reservoir—a massive 35-mile-long lake near Redding—has risen by 36 feet. On Monday, it was 77% full, at 129% of its historical average for this time of year and still rising.