early dryness including elevated fire potential until the first soaking rains and impacts to rangeland health. The first significant precipitation event brought beneficial rain and snow to Southern California and Nevada, and parts of the eastern Sierra. Rain and snow have continued, and by the end of November central-southern California-Nevada are now above normal. Precipitation has continued into December and improved drought conditions.

Major reservoir levels remained above normal even with a dry start to the water year. At the time of the webinar (Nov. 25th), low Sierra snowpack levels remained. But by the end of November and into early December, the snowpack start plus reservoir conditions began to show to be above normal. However snowpack conditions across the Sierra’s remain below normal, more notably in the Northern Sierra(as of Dec. 6th).

Drought & Climate Outlook

Precipitation: As of Nov. 21, the seasonal (December - February) precipitation outlooks show odds tilted towards below normal over much of California and equal chances of above, below, and normal precipitation over the rest of California-Nevada. Seasonal drought conditions were also predicted to be removed in southern Nevada (as did happen as of Dec. 3) with development likely in the central California coast.

Temperature: Warm temperatures are favored over California-Nevada through early winter with >40% chance of above-normal December-February temperatures.

ENSO: ENSO neutral conditions continued through the end of summer with near-to-above average sea surface temperatures across most of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. NOAA’s ENSO alert system status is currently Not Active and ENSO neutral is favored during the winter 2019-20