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In California water news today …
Christmas travelers face delays due to snow, atmospheric river
“Weather-related travel delays may mount in California and some parts of the Northeast and Great Lakes from Christmas Eve through Christmas Day, as well as the days that follow the holiday, AccuWeather meteorologists warn. By far, the most impactful weather from Wednesday to Friday for this Christmas week will be in California. A new atmospheric river will unfold by midweek with torrential rain lingering through Thursday and into Friday. Widespread problems from flooding, mudslides and washouts will create dangerous conditions on some highways, as well as at street level in the towns and cities in the state. On top of the rain, colder air will cause freezing levels to dip and snow to expand from the high country of the Sierra Nevada to more intermediate elevations in the mountain range, as well as in the Siskiyous to the north and the Transverse Ranges to the south. So much snow may fall on Donner Pass during Wednesday night and Christmas Day that the major thoroughfare may close for a time. Many feet of snow are forecast to pile up over the Sierra Nevada during the second half of this week. … ” Read more from AccuWeather.
Rare ‘high risk’ California flood threat as atmospheric rivers target the state through Friday
“A dangerous flood and landslide threat has prompted a rare “high risk” forecast for California as a series of atmospheric rivers targets the state this Christmas week, including areas soaked last weekend in Northern California, as well as the L.A. Basin. The next in a series of storms tapping deep plumes of moisture known as atmospheric rivers has meteorologists particularly concerned. In their excessive rainfall outlook, NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center issued a rare “high risk” for parts of Southern California for Wednesday and Wednesday night. According to NOAA/WPC, these high risk forecasts are only issued on about 4% of days, but have accounted 36% of all flood deaths and 80% of all flood-related damage in the U.S. … ” Read more from the Weather Channel.
CW3E AR Update: 22 December 2025 Outlook
After a brief lull, a second and stronger AR will move onshore late Tue 23 Dec, bringing widespread heavy precipitation to much of California. This AR is forecast to rank as an AR 3 (based on the Ralph et al. 2019 AR Scale) over portions of coastal Central and Southern California, with an AR 4 currently forecast over San Diego County. Click here for more from the Center for Western Weather & Water Extremes (CW3E).
SEE ALSO:
One dead in California floods as state braces for brutal week of Christmas storms, from the Guardian
Lake Oroville sees significant rise in water levels amid storm
“Since Friday, Dec. 19, Lake Oroville’s water elevation has increased by approximately 11 feet, rising from 766.35 feet to 777.34 feet, with an additional rise of about 40 feet projected by the end of the week. This increase translates to an additional 109,000 acre-feet of water, with storage expected to grow by approximately 450,000 acre-feet. The Oroville Dam plays a crucial role in flood protection for downstream communities by capturing runoff from rain and future snowmelt that would otherwise flow into the Feather River, potentially causing localized flooding. … ” Read more from KRCR.
California braces for drought from the fifth La Niña in six years
“Deadly flooding in Asia and early snowstorms across the U.S. are signaling the return of a weather-roiling La Niña, a cooling of Pacific waters that can disrupt economies and trigger disasters worldwide. The La Niña phenomenon is often linked with droughts in California, Argentina and Brazil, and the destructive flooding that recently swept Southeast Asia. These types of catastrophes have become a larger factor in setting terms for insurers, farmers and energy providers. … La Niña can intensify both droughts and downpours, fuel more active storms across the tropical Pacific and strengthen Atlantic hurricanes. During past episodes, the pattern may have helped drive the Los Angeles fires in January and Hurricane Helene, which killed more than 250 people across the southern U.S. in 2024. Not every extreme event can be tied directly to La Niña, but scientists say the fingerprints are familiar. … ” Read more from the LA Times.
DWR: Balancing water and wildlife: How science guides the State Water Project
“As a series of atmospheric rivers bring rain and high elevation snow to communities throughout California, the winter storms are crucial for the State Water Project, helping fill reservoirs and support water deliveries. The State Water Project (SWP) is part of the backbone of California’s water infrastructure – a multi-benefit project that supplies water to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland, provides flood protection, generates hydropower, offers recreational opportunities and provides environmental benefits. The SWP must balance water supply reliability with the protection of listed endangered fish species at the same time climate change alters how and when rain and snow reach California. … ” Read more from DWR.
US intervenes in North Coast dam controversy
“Opponents of a plan to remove two Pacific Gas & Electric Co. dams from the Eel River in Lake and Mendocino counties have gained a powerful ally: the Trump administration. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins filed a notice Friday to intervene in the utility’s bid to decommission its waterworks in the rural area. The structures include a century-old power plant that helps divert Eel River water into irrigation canals that support Potter Valley in Mendocino County and dump into the upper Russian River. The water recipients include customers in Marin County. PG&E’s application to decommission the so-called Potter Valley Project is being considered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, which oversees licensing of the nation’s hydroelectric facilities. “For generations, farmers here have put this water to good, productive use,” Rollins said in an announcement. “But under California’s radical leadership, the needs of hardworking families are being ignored while the needs of fish are treated as more important. That’s simply wrong.” … ” Read more from the Marin Independent Journal.
SEE ALSO:
- Congressman Doug LaMalfa Commends USDA Intervention in Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project Proceedings, press release from Congressman Doug LaMalfa
- USDA and Congressman Doug LaMalfa defend Potter Valley from water cuts, from Action News Now
Addressing the needs of small farmers under SGMA groundwater market development
“The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) opened the door for groundwater markets to emerge in much of California. Groundwater markets refer to the voluntary, compensated transfer of the right or allowance to pump groundwater, as well as the rules and institutions that govern trading. Many groundwater sustainability agencies expressed initial interest in developing groundwater cap-and-trade schemes under SGMA, and a handful have made actionable progress towards implementing them. While groundwater markets have potential to substantively reduce the costs of groundwater conservation, they also carry the possibility of unintended consequences. Additionally, these markets may not be equally accessible by all participants. … ” Read more from UCANR.
California Water Institute releases report on building a sustainable water future
“The California Water Institute at Fresno State released a new report showcasing how applied research, education and strategic partnerships are supporting responses to California’s pressing water challenges. Amid historic droughts, climate extremes and growing pressure on groundwater supplies, the report underscores how the institute’s work is helping communities as they plan for long-term resilience. Its release comes as federal lawmakers introduce new water infrastructure legislation aimed at expanding storage capacity and improving project delivery across California, highlighting the need for research, data tools and collaborative planning to help local agencies prepare for future water conditions. “Our work at the California Water Institute is rooted in a simple but urgent reality that California’s water challenges need solutions that are both scientific and immediately useful,” said Laura Ramos, director of the institute. … ” Read more from Fresno State Today.
Federal funding powers water-efficient farming, protects California’s future
“The University of California, Davis, has long stood in the top tier of U.S. research universities, driving forward innovation that transforms lives. However, the university’s ability to continue this groundbreaking work is now in jeopardy, as the federal government — the single largest funder of UC Davis research — has terminated and threatened grants. Areas such as climate change, health equity and gender-affirming care may see sharp declines in support. In this shifting environment, UC Davis and the UC Office of the President are engaging with lawmakers across party lines to protect research funding and explain the real-world benefits of academic science. One such example is the research of Isaya Kisekka, a professor of hydrology and agricultural water management in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering and the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources. Kisekka leads research on sustaining groundwater use in irrigated agriculture. … ” Read more from UC Davis.
Climate change makes snowmaking a necessity, not a backup, for the West’s ski resorts
“As guests ski and ride down Schoomarm, a stretch of beginner-friendly terrain at Keystone Resort in Colorado, they are treated to views of Dillon Reservoir nearly the whole way down. More eagle-eyed skiers and riders will notice that snowmaking machines line the run’s three miles, which spans from summit to base. On a sunny, cloudless November day, it’s one of the resort’s only accessible ski runs with much of the credit going to those machines. “It gives pretty much everybody the ability to ski here on day one,” said Kate Schifani, the resort’s senior director of mountain operations. She says Keystone is super focused on that early opening day. “We are the first resort in the country to open,” she said, referring to the 2025 season. “So we put a lot of stock in what we can do early-season, and having great snowmaking helps us do that.” … ” Read more from The Water Desk.
In commentary today …
EPA’s rule change on water protections would be a disaster for fish and wildlife
Dac Collins, News Editor at Outdoor Life, writes, “A proposed rule change announced by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers in November should alarm everyone who cares about fish and wildlife. That proposal seeks to redefine the kinds of waters that can be regulated under the Clean Water Act — referred to in federal parlance as “the Waters of the United States” or WOTUS. It would narrow the current definitions to “relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies” and “wetlands that are connected and indistinguishable from such waterbodies.” Conservation groups and water experts warn that under this interpretation, thousands of miles of tributary streams would lose federal protections, along with much of our national wetlands inventory. According to a regulatory impact analysis conducted by the EPA, upwards of 80% of our mapped wetlands would lose protections. … ” Read more from Outdoor Life.
In regional water news and commentary today …
NORTH COAST
Euerka: Storm floods homes, traps motorists and takes fire station out of commission
“Sunday, flooding in Humboldt County required several families to be evacuated from their homes, caused a multi-hour closure of U.S. 101 near Loleta, and trapped people in cars stuck in water. The National Weather Service is expecting more rain and possible flooding this week, as people prepare for Christmas travel. About 2.5 inches of rain fell in the Humboldt Bay area Sunday, bringing rivers to flood stages and swelling small creeks. “It’s the most water I’ve seen in the 20 plus years I’ve worked here,” said Nathan Baxley, Battalion Chief at Humboldt Bay Fire. … ” Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Snow finally arrives in Tahoe
“After experiencing one of the slowest starts to ski season in decades, snow has finally arrived in the Tahoe region — and more could be on the way, the National Weather Service’s Reno office says. Areas above 8,000 feet in the Tahoe Basin are expected to receive between 12 to 18 inches of snow this week, the weather service says. Further south, Mono County is slated to receive 18 to 24 inches above 8,500 feet. Several traffic cameras near Alpine Meadows, Tahoe City and Dollar Point show layers of snow along the highway as of Monday morning, signaling that the area may finally have a white Christmas after all. Previously, only 0.1 inches were recorded in the Tahoe City area from Oct. 1 to Dec. 18 – levels that haven’t been that low since 1990 and 1991, SFGATE recently reported. … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
With more rain ahead, Redding officials explain flooding, urge caution
“In a press release today, Redding officials said that serious flooding this weekend occurred because the intensity and volume of rainfall overwhelmed the city’s stormwater system. “In some parts of the city,” the press release said, “nearly two inches of rain fell in just over an hour—an event considered to occur only once in a 50-year period.” Today, areas of State Route 273 at South Bonneyview, Buenaventura Boulevard and Wyndham Drive remain closed. Public Works Director Michael Webb said despite the city’s ongoing efforts to clean and maintain infrastructure including earthen ditches, channels and storm drains, the high volume of water moving so quickly through the system caused debris accumulation that clogged city stormwater systems. … ” Read more from the Shasta Scout.
NAPA/SONOMA
NWS issues series of advisories for Russian River, San Francisco Bay and North Bay
“The National Weather Service has issued a gale warning for the San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay and nearby bodies of water, as wind gusts were forecast to reach up to 35 knots, or about 40 mph. A flood warning was also issued for areas around the Russian River near Hopland, an unincorporated area of Mendocino County. The river’s flood stage height at that location is 15 feet and was forecast to reach 16.1 feet Sunday evening, which cause flooding to cropland and state Highway 175’s approach to the Russian River Bridge. … ” Read more from Local News Matters.
BAY AREA
Bay Area storm will bring damaging winds — and may rapidly worsen. Here’s what to watch
“A storm is knocking on Northern California’s door, one that could meet the criteria for a bomb cyclone as it approaches on Tuesday night. The worst impacts of the storm are expected to be from 7 p.m. Tuesday through 7 a.m. Wednesday, but it’s still a close call on whether the storm will meet bomb cyclone criteria, and there’s high uncertainty in the short-range forecast about the system’s strength. Tuesday night could end up as a strong but run-of-the-mill windstorm; however, there’s a chance for a much more powerful low-pressure system that causes destructive wind damage from San Francisco northward. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Flood watch in Stockton, San Joaquin County as atmospheric river hits
“A flood watch is in effect in Stockton and San Joaquin County through the day after Christmas as rain and gusty winds are expected to create hazardous driving conditions, according to the San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services. An atmospheric river moving across California is also expected to bring colder temperatures, increasing the risk of hypothermia and other cold-related illnesses, particularly among the unhoused community, county officials said. “The County stands ready to respond to flooding, power outages, and other storm impacts,” said Tiffany Cacho, Director of Emergency Operations, Office of Emergency Services. “We are working with our cities, partners, and the community to keep everyone safe, and we encourage residents to do their part and take steps now to prepare their homes and families.” … ” Read more from the Stockton Record.
Stanislaus dam controversy has it all: seismic concern, condors, unusual rocks
“A peaceful canyon in western Stanislaus County, where people hike and enjoy the scenery, also is a battleground over a proposed reservoir just outside Patterson. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released an environmental impact statement this month that’s likely to spark new debate about seismic activity around Del Puerto Canyon, the safety of the proposed dam and wildlife. In a new wrinkle, some dam opponents have noted that legally protected California condors have been flying not far from the reservoir site. A spokesman for the state Division of Safety of Dams said the regulatory agency expects to see a construction application in 2026 from Del Puerto Water District and its reservoir partner, the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority, an association of four water districts. … ” Read more from the Modesto Bee.
Locals prepare for storm and incoming atmospheric river across the Central Valley
“With an atmospheric river pushing through California and making its way toward the Central Valley, city employees, counties and local residents are gearing up for potential flooding to hit in time for the Holiday. “It’s important, because this neighborhood does flood. So when it gets into the drainage system, all these streets can flood when there’s an atmospheric river. So that’s when it gets really bad,” says James Macrae, who has lived in Visalia since 1978. He and his neighbors work year-round to prepare for storms and do their best to keep their yard tidy to help try and lessen the impact on the city’s drainage system. “When we get a lot of rain in a short period of time, this whole area around all the corners overflows with water because the drainage is very old around here,” explains James. … ” Read more from ABC 30.
Commentary: Merced County and the stakes of California’s water debate
Merced County Supervisor Josh Pedrozo writes, “Debates over water are nothing new in California. However, the discussion has resurfaced following a recent study comparing what urban areas and agriculture pay for surface water. A December 2025 CalMatters article by Rachel Becker and Natasha Uzcátegui-Liggett highlights the ongoing debate over how much California’s cities and agricultural districts pay for water. The study notes that major cities often pay more than $2,500 per acre-foot, while farmers pay far less under long-standing water rights and contracts. Some urban officials point to this difference as evidence that agriculture is receiving a “free ride.” It is not a free ride. It is a reflection of reality. Without reliable water for agriculture, America’s food supply collapses, local economies are devastated, and the Central Valley suffers — not because of drought, but because of policy choices. … ” Read more from the Merced Focus.
Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District board discusses wild weather, over-budget project
“The Tehachapi-Cummings County Water District’s board of directors discussed recent record-breaking weather at a meeting last week, as well as its over-budget project to replace engines at pump plants. TCCWD General Manager Tom Neisler said practically all of California, save for two small areas at the northern and southern tips of the state, has emerged from drought status following record-breaking rain in November. Neisler said Bakersfield got more than four inches of rain in three days, when the area normally gets six or seven for the entire year, and much of the rest of California got similarly extreme rain. … ” Read more from the Tehachapi News.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Atmospheric river Christmas rainstorm looms for Southern California: Here’s what to know
“A powerful atmospheric river headed for Southern California is expected to drop several inches of rainfall, creating the potential for travel challenges primarily on Christmas Eve extending into Christmas, forecasters said Monday, Dec. 22. The storm is due to arrive during the day Tuesday and will gradually intensify, bringing the heaviest rainfall from Tuesday night into Wednesday, forecasters with the National Weather Service said. A flood watch is to be in effect from 4 p.m. Tuesday to 10 p.m. Wednesday. “This will be the first heavy pulse of the atmospheric river,” said Rich Thompson, a meteorologist with NWS’ Oxnard office. … ” Read more from the OC Register.
SEE ALSO: Southern California braces for strongest storm of the week, with evacuations planned amid rare ‘high risk’ of flooding, from CNN
Skiers call this resort ‘Big Bare.’ Will the coming storm save California’s ski season?
“Nothing but dirt and dry, brown chaparral rolled beneath skis and snowboards dangling from a chairlift at Big Bear Mountain Resort on Friday, as forlorn adventure seekers joked they should rename the place “Big Bare.” Unseasonably high temperatures even left the impressive array of high-tech artificial-snow makers below mostly useless, their fans spinning idly in the warm breeze. “The word I’ve been using is ‘abysmal,’” said Cameron Miniutti, 29, who was riding the lift in a light cotton shirt, with the hot sun glinting off his ski goggles. “This is, for sure, the toughest start [to a season] I’ve seen.” Similarly bleak panoramas can be found at ski areas across the American West so far this year, but especially in California, where a wet November gave way to one of the driest Decembers in recent memory. …, ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
IMPERIAL/COACHELLA VALLEYS
City of Imperial challenges county approval of data center project
“The City of Imperial filed a petition for a writ of mandate against the County of Imperial and the Board of Supervisors to halt the development of the proposed data center complex, almost one million square feet in size. According to court documents, the petition was executed on Dec. 1 in Huntington Beach and electronically filed with the Superior Court of California in Imperial County on Dec. 4. Attorneys for the City of Imperial, the petitioner and plaintiff, are from Alene Taber Law. The case was assigned for all purposes, including trial, to the Honorable L. Brooks Anderholt. … ” Read more from the Desert Review.
Along the Colorado River …
Western leaders demand probes into wildfire mitigation cuts
“Several elected leaders from northern Arizona are calling on Attorney General Kris Mayes to determine if the Trump administration’s cuts to wildfire mitigation efforts are illegal. Coconino County Supervisor Lena Fowler, Tusayan Mayor Clarinda Vail and Flagstaff mayor Becky Daggett are among the 160 western officials who are concerned about the drop in federal fire preparedness in recent months. They signed onto a letter as part of the Mountain Pact, a group that advocates for western communities in climate, public lands and outdoor recreation policy. They are urging their respective state attorneys general to push back against layoffs, voluntary deferred resignations and early retirements within the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service. … ” Read more from KNAU.
Reviving western waterways with a hands-on approach
“Remember the joy of playing in creeks as a kid—building structures with sticks, stones, mud and a lot of imagination? That same spirit of curiosity and creativity is driving a quiet revolution across the western United States, where TNC, partners and local communities are restoring wet meadows and riparian corridors in the face of climate change. On a crisp morning in northwest Colorado, Joseph Leonhard, The Nature Conservancy’s Riparian Restoration Project Manager, wades into Yellow Creek—a tributary of the White River. With deliberate care, he places sticks and mud in a pattern that echoes the engineering genius of beavers, which once shaped this landscape. His work slows the rush of snowmelt and summer rains, allowing sediment to settle and water to linger. Over time, these simple, hand-built structures begin to transform the ecosystem—nurturing native plants, attracting wildlife, reducing wildfire risk and bolstering resilience to drought. … ” Read more from The Nature Conservancy.
A look at the precipitation indexes …
A big jump for Northern California; not so much for other parts of the state, but that will soon change …
