During the month of July, 12 major California reservoirs shrank even
further, dropping from a collective content of 37% of capacity on 30
June to 31% on 31 July. Despite significant rain in July, the
reservoirs now only contain 45% of the historical average amount of
water for 31 July.

Added to this disaster is the prediction of torrential rains this
winter, caused by an extreme El Niño warming of the eastern Pacific
Ocean. It always seems that major droughts in California never resolve
slowly. Instead, they end suddenly with major flooding.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary