The local drought conditions have eased substantially with the series of heavy storms which pounded Mendocino County first in December and then in early February. The U.S. Drought Monitor has downgraded the local area drought designation from the most serious “exceptional” designation in Dec. 9 to merely “severe.”

While 98 percent of California remains in at least the “severe” drought category, only 40 percent recontinues at the “exceptional” designation. The Drought Monitor is a nationwide combined monitoring effort published weekly by the US Department of Agriculture, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Drought Mitigation Center.

The abnormally high temperatures and clear weather enjoyed by much of California this winter is the byproduct of another series of high pressure ridges blocking storm tracks.

Most of the storms which have broken through to strike California have been tropical in nature, yielding little to no snow in the High Sierra. This situation is serious with the statewide snow pack measured in late January at 25 percent of normal, down from the December conditions.

While snow melt typically contributes little to Mendocino County water supply it does provide about 30 percent of the state’s water needs, according to the state Department of Water Resources.

Many snow survey sites feeding the Trinity, Sacramento, Feather and Yuba rivers, which typically have three to four feet of snow at this time of year, currently have no snow. Reports from climbers have Anthony Peak in Mendocino National Forest with some ice but little to no snow.

In response to these conditions, the State Department of Water Resources just relaxed some of the rules governing reservoir operations affecting the inflows and outflows in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and operation of the Delta Cross Channel Gates for the next two months.

The board also sent notices to 9,000 junior water rights holders (those established after 1914) advising them of the potential for curtailing their water usage in 2015 should conditions not improve.

This initial notice paves the way to issue future orders orders to junior rights holders to stop any diversions from water starved water sheds. Last year the city of Willits, Brooktrails Township and other communities along portions of the Eel River received orders limiting their diversion of water.

Water flows in local rivers are below average for this time of year. The pattern of this winter’s rainfall has caused near flood stage flows, followed by a sharp drop down to below average flow rates.

NOAA’s latest climate predictions call for lower than average regional rainfall for March, April and May; accompanied by higher than average temperatures. Earlier predictions had called for a wetter than normal late season. It appears the narrower, but still powerful, high pressure ridge blocking the California storm track will remain in effect for much of the remaining “rainy” season.

Both Willits and Brooktrails reservoirs are still overflowing from the early February rains. Whether they will get the April and May rains that set both agencies up for a worry free summer and fall, remains to be seen.