After this week's atmospheric river, the word "drought" may be the last thing on the minds of California residents. But Bay Area water managers are still nervous about the overall supply levels.
“It’s definitely given us a push into the realm of normal,” said Andrea Pook, spokesperson for the East Bay Municipal Utility District. “But we’re still not there.”
Pook said the Bay Area is currently only at 58 percent of average for precipitation.
Snow levels in the Sierras are looking better this week, now at 130 percent above average.
“We want for that snow and our weather to stay cold up there,” Pook said. “It’s our natural reservoir, if you will, so all of that snow can melt this coming spring.”
For now, Pook said officials are in a "wait and see" mode, hoping for several more big storms before making any decisions about water restrictions.
But East Bay MUD's drought committee is beginning to meet, just in case the wet season stays mostly dry.
