• Southern California faces severe drought due to lack of rain.
• Reservoirs in California remain at or above normal levels.
• Snowpack varies across the region, with concerns in the Four Corners.

January 20, 2025 — The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report, released on January 16, 2025, paints a stark picture of drought conditions across the western United States.

Southern California has seen severe drought (D2) expand to cover the region due to an exceptionally dry start to the water year. From October 1, 2024, to January 13, 2025, precipitation in many areas, including San Diego, has been less than 5% of normal, making it the driest start to the water year on record for some locations.

Los Angeles and Ventura counties are now classified under D2 drought, impacted by periodic Santa Ana winds, drying vegetation, and large wildfires. While the past two winters brought above-average precipitation, the reservoirs in California are still at or above normal levels, providing some buffer against water shortages.

Snowpack and Soil Moisture.

Across the Four Corners Region—where Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico converge—snow water equivalent (SWE) remains well below normal. Declining soil moisture and low SWE led to a downgrade of drought conditions by one category in parts of Arizona and southwestern Utah. Meanwhile, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, after a dry start to January, are seeing a decrease in SWE levels.

Improvements in Some Areas.

Not all regions experienced worsening drought conditions. Central Montana saw a one-category improvement due to snowpack levels exceeding the 75th percentile and favorable short-term precipitation trends. Similarly, SWE in the southern Cascades and parts of eastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho is above normal, leading to more optimistic outlooks in those areas. However, moderate drought (D1) persists along the northern Cascades in Washington due to low snowpack.

Regional Drought Trends.

The current drought statistics highlight the variability in conditions across the West:

• Severe drought (D2-D4) covers 23.21% of the region as of January 14, 2025.
• Extreme drought (D3-D4) affects 6.87%, consistent with the previous week.
• The percentage of the West classified as drought-free (None) stands at 32.97%, a slight improvement over last week.

While some areas are seeing relief, much of the West remains in the grip of significant drought, with conditions highly dependent on winter precipitation patterns in the coming months.

Map from the U.S. Drought Monitor.

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