ORLANDO, Fla. – California has reached a historic milestone, officially becoming drought-free for the first time in 25 years.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, not a single region in California is currently classified as being in drought or even abnormally dry.
The last time the entire state was free of drought concerns was December 2000.
This impressive turnaround was driven largely by recent winter storms, including multiple rounds of atmospheric rivers that delivered days of widespread rain and mountain snow.
Packing recent rains over previous wet seasons helped replenish the grounds and boost reservoir levels.
Because of this, California now stands out nationally as the only state in the U.S. with no drought impacts at the start of 2026.
Florida Drought Concerns
While California has been able to benefit from a string of wet winters, Florida is dealing with the opposite trend. As of Thursday’s weekly update, drought conditions continue to expand across much of the state as we move deeper into our dry season.
This current season has been unusually dry for our neighbors in the Panhandle, but slightly less concerning in Central Florida. But no matter where in Florida you look, the Sunshine State could benefit from some additional rain.
A drier-than-normal dry season is especially concerning because it directly increases wildfire risk. During this time of year, low humidity, warmer temperatures, and limited rainfall cause vegetation to dry out. Grass and dry brush lose moisture and become much more flammable, making it easier to spark and spread fires.
Florida’s wildfire season typically begins late Winter and peaks through the Spring, before the return of our daily rain storms make a comeback.
So while California celebrates a rare moment of statewide drought relief, Florida residents remain on high alert over the next several months.