LOS ANGELES — California's drought has become the state's driest three-year period on record, surpassing that of 2013-15 — and a fourth dry year is looking increasingly likely, officials said Monday.
The news came just days after the state began its new water year, which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. The 2022 water year was marked by dramatic swings between wet and dry conditions and a record-shattering heat wave at the start of September.
With long-range forecasts suggesting that warmer- and drier-than-average conditions will persist, uncertainty remains about what the new water year may bring, even as residents continue to conserve at a commendable pace.
