UC Rangelands

From the California-Nevada Drought Update, National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) - A Warm, Dry March Led to Snow Melt and Drought Expansion. Heat and Fire Potential Are Concerns for Summer.

Key Points:
💧 Abnormally Dry (D0) and drought conditions have returned to California and expanded and intensified in Nevada, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. California’s drought-free period earlier in the water year was short lived. Currently, 65% of California is Abnormally Dry (D0) and nearly 77% of Nevada is in drought (D1-D4).

☀️ A dry and warm March, with record-breaking heat, led to rapid and early snowmelt across California and Nevada.

❄️ In early April, 98-100% of SNOTEL stations were in a snow drought (defined as snow water equivalent below the 20th percentile). April 1 statewide snow water equivalent was the lowest on record (going back to 1981) for Nevada, and the second lowest on record for California.

⛈️ Recent storms and future forecasted storms through the end of April into early May have and may continue to buffer further drought degradation in some areas.

🔥 As the region enters its climatological dry season, seasonal forecasts favor warmer-than-normal conditions for May–July. Above-normal significant wildland fire potential is forecast in northern California and eastern Nevada in June–July.

Read more from the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) at the link below...

Drought Status Update for California-Nevada | April 27, 2026 | Drought.gov NIDIS and its partners will issue future drought status updates as conditions evolve.