California's severe drought unchanged despite record thunderstorms

[n2doc]

At left, the U.S. Drought Monitor map as of Aug. 5. At right, the same map showing drought conditions as of July 1. The darkest red spots are the areas of California in an exceptional drought.

A series of thunderstorms that have hit California in recent weeks may have delivered devastating torrents of rain in some areas, but on the whole they were "inconsequential" in terms of easing the state's worsening drought, according to a report issued Thursday.

The U.S. Drought Monitor, in its weekly report, said that the locations of the rain and the rate it fell minimized the relief for California’s parched landscape.

Because the heaviest showers were limited in scope, had high runoff rates and did not happen in two of the state’s key watersheds -- the Colorado River basin and the Sierra Nevada -- they “did not allow for significant percolation into drought-parched soils,” the report stated.

The report said the only short-term benefits of the rain was reduced irrigation demands and improved evaporation rates.

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http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-rain-california-drought-20140807-story.html

[yeoman6987]

1. unchanged?

It looks better. Granted they need more rain, but to say hardly any change does not appear to be accurate.