SACRAMENTO, CA - The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has highlighted preparations for more extreme weather events this season, following a record hot summer across much of California and a looming La Niña pattern. The California new Water Year starts on October 1.

“California has experienced the full range of climate challenges in recent years, from extreme drought to severe flooding, and we will be seeing more of that in the future,” said Karla Nemeth, Director, Department of Water Resources. “To meet these dramatic challenges, California is starting this water year with more accurate forecasting and additional investments in flood protection and groundwater recharge.”

California is seeing climate extremes right now, with above-average temperatures forecasted into October, with no rain in the current forecast as well. These climate extremes have posed significant challenges to water managers, especially the extremely hot and dry conditions that frequently persist well past the summer months and into the fall.

At the same time, the water that California does receive will arrive from more powerful storms, and hotter temperatures will mean less winter precipitation falls as snow and more will arrive as rain, increasing flood risk, explained a release.

“California experienced record heat and dry conditions this summer, drying out the landscape and putting our hydrology behind before the water year even starts,” said Dr. Michael Anderson, State Climatologist. “While there is still a lot of uncertainty around how La Niña could impact the state this year, we know we can count on it to include extreme conditions.”

DWR and partner agencies are making California more climate resilient, taking actions to protect and boost California’s water supplies by taking an all-of-the-above approach to creating a resilient water supply in the face of a changing climate.

Investments in Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations and improved data collection on hydrological conditions across the state through DWR’s $7 million California Stream Gage Improvement Program (CalSIP) will allow California to incorporate the best available science and data into its water management decisions.

For more details, click here to read the full press release.

AndNowUKnow will continue to report on important weather events, so stay tuned.