Skip to content
Deacon Keith Fournier Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >

Photos show dramatic transformation as California's drought is BUSTED by rains of Biblical proportions

Free World Class Education
FREE Catholic Classes
Rain fills rivers and reservoirs across Northern California.

For five years, California has suffered through record-busting drought that has alarmed planners. Now, the state may be emerging from the drought as epic rains follow epic heat.

Northern California has been inundated with rain and snow, which is flooding rivers and filling basins that have been dry for years.

Northern California has been inundated with rain and snow, which is flooding rivers and filling basins that have been dry for years.

Highlights

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- A few years ago, it was difficult to ascertain if it was January in California. For parts of the state saw virtually no rain the entire month, an unprecedented occurrence. The drought saw wells run dry, leaving entire communities without any water at all, forced to rely on trucked supplies like third world villages. Yards turned brown across the state as people watering lawns were slapped with fines.

But now, there is talk of the drought being at an end, at least in Northern California, where atmospheric rivers of rain have been dumped on the state, causing epic flooding. At the same time, the southern portion of the state remains dry, largely deprived of the refreshing rain that is falling in abundance in Northern California.


For several years, forecasters predicted California would not escape the impact of the massive drought which saw many reservoirs drain to nothing. Filling these basins would take several years of good rain, they predicted. Drought would be the norm in California for several years to come. State planners were encouraged to look at building new dams and to implement new long-term strategies to preserve water supplies.

However, 2015-16 was an El Nino year, and much of the state enjoyed above average rainfall. This was enough to partially fill lakes and reservoirs, but it did not end the drought. Some water restrictions were lifted, but people were advised to expect a quick return to conservation. But now, the early winter of 2016 has turned out to be unusually wet.

The culprit are atmospheric rivers, or something Californian's refer to as the "pineapple express." Under certain conditions, a band of the jet stream can split from its parent and dip south. When that band encounters tropical moisture in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands, it rapidly transports the rain in a 250 mile wide atmospheric river which can contain more than fifteen times the water of the Mississippi. 

That water is then dumped over Central or Northern California, depending on the conditions.

Such storms happen in the winter, but they are uncommon. But this year, California has seen the event repeat several times over, delivering extreme amounts of rain to the northern half of the state.

In Northern California, widespread flooding has destroyed homes. In the mountains near Donner Pass, walls of snow flank the freeway. Mudslides and rockslides have closed roads across the state.

We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you.

Help Now >

Despite the damage and the chaos, most Californians are grateful for the rain. The agricultural heartland of the state requires the rain and water to create jobs and grow food for the rest of the country. Good snowpack in the Sierras is essential to keeping the southern half of the state watered during the summer.

For now, California's drought is partially busted. Drought conditions persist in Southern California, but in the north, it's over, for now.

The docks at Brown's Ravine in 2014.

The docks at Brown's Ravine in 2014.

The same docks in 2017.

The same docks in 2017.

Lake Oroville was drained to just 39 percent capacity during the drought.

Lake Oroville was drained to just 39 percent capacity during the drought.

Now the lake is nearly full.

Now the lake is nearly full.

The dam at Folsom Lake sat dry for much of 2015.

The dam at Folsom Lake sat dry for much of 2015.

Today, the dam is releasing water on a routine basis as its basin fills with runoff.

Today, the dam is releasing water on a routine basis as its basin fills with runoff.

Today, the water under the South Yuba River Bridge is fast and dangerous. Tourists stop to take pictures of all the water.

Today, the water under the South Yuba River Bridge is fast and dangerous. Tourists stop to take pictures of all the water.

Swimmers keep cool under the South Yuba River Bridge in 2016.

Swimmers keep cool under the South Yuba River Bridge in 2016.

Redwood Creek is normally a small, meandering stream, as most creeks are.

Redwood Creek is normally a small, meandering stream, as most creeks are.

Today Redwood Creek is dangerous as it overflows with rushing water.

Today Redwood Creek is dangerous as it overflows with rushing water.

In 2016, houseboats on Lake Oroville were nearly grounded.

In 2016, houseboats on Lake Oroville were nearly grounded.

Today, the houseboats float normally, as if the drought never happened.

Today, the houseboats float normally, as if the drought never happened.

---

The California Network is the Next Wave in delivery of information and entertainment on pop culture, social trends, lifestyle, entertainment, news, politics and economics. We are hyper-focused on one audience, YOU, the connected generation. JOIN US AS WE REDEFINE AND REVOLUTIONIZE THE EVER-CHANGING MEDIA LANDSCAPE.

Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.

Prayer of the Day logo
Saint of the Day logo
Deacon Keith Fournier Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >

Catholic Online Logo

Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2024 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.

Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.