Tiny Part of CA Drought-Free

Good news for one small part of California; it’s not considered drought-ridden, like the rest of the state, anymore.

The area, which represents .16% of the state and lies near Lake Havasu and the Colorado River, was removed from the drought list shown in the U.S. Drought Monitor Report, the Los Angeles Times reports. Sized at 262 square miles, a tiny part of the state’s 155, 779 square miles, the area reaped the benefits of an unusually strong monsoon season that triggered rain over the state in addition to some strong thunderstorms in December.

Brian Fuchs, who authored the newest U.S. Drought Monitor report, told the Times, “I would guess along the river you do have some folks living in that area. You’re impacting some retirement communities. It’s very minute.”

Not since March 18, 2014, has any area in the state escaped the drought. Even then, the percentage of the state considered drought-free was only one one-hundredth of a percent.

Northern California is hopeful that projected storms through the beginning of next week will alleviate the drought. The National Weather Service estimates that parts of the Bay Area could get up to six inches of rain by Sunday, and parts of the North Bay could be drenched with over nine inches, according to NBC News..