As of 1 November, the 12 "key reservoirs" in California held only 23% of
their combined capacity. The average content as of that date is 56% of
capacity.

At this time of year, the reservoirs are normally low, waiting for the
spring and summer snow-melt to refill them. However, they currently
hold less than half the amount of water that they would normally hold.

Precipitation in the first month of the current rain-year -- which
started 1 October -- was below average at 16 weather stations. Two
stations were above average. Yosemite had 3.21 inches in October, 60%
above average; this should help the water supply for San Francisco.
Death Valley had 1.08 inches in October, more than 15 times the average
for the month.

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