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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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Water level increases at Lake Shasta have leveled off this month after a dry start to December for northern California.
Multiple atmospheric rivers hit California in late November. During that time, the water level at Lake Shasta, California's biggest reservoir, rose by 12 feet. The state's second-largest reservoir, Lake Oroville, also saw water level increases during the same period. A California Department of Water Resources (DWR) spokesperson attributed the lake's performance to atmospheric rivers.
However, the lakes have both leveled off during the first two weeks of November. NWS lead meteorologist Eric Kurth told Newsweek that no significant or long-duration storms have hit northern California during the weeks-long dry break.
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On Thursday afternoon, Lake Shasta was at 998 feet elevation, just shy of 69 feet below full capacity. Lake Oroville was at 784 feet in elevation, 115 feet below capacity.
Before the atmospheric rivers in November, water levels at both lakes had undergone a months-long decline. Both lakes are lower than they were during this time last year, although significantly higher than in December 2022.
During 2022, both reservoirs reached very low levels after battling years of drought, though much of California has since recovered.
Water levels could rise again this month as multiple storms take aim at California.
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The first storm hit on Wednesday, with the NWS office in Sacramento anticipating a second storm arriving on Friday. Meanwhile, a "second wave" of rain and mountain storm from Wednesday's storm will move through the region on Thursday night, according to a post the office made on X, formerly Twitter.
"Precipitation has moved into the mountains, but more is on the way! A 2nd wave of rain & mtn snow will move thru NorCal this afternoon-evening ahead of a 2nd, stronger system on Friday," the office posted. "Road conditions will be slick during the PM commute, so be sure to drive cautiously!"
Radar footage with the post showed rain arriving in Redding, California, near Lake Shasta, and Oroville, near its eponymous reservoir, on Thursday afternoon before a brief break. Then, more precipitation will hit by Friday morning. That precipitation will persist through Saturday, at least.
A rain forecast map shared by the same office anticipates as much as 4 inches of rain in the Redding area, with around 1.5 inches in the Oroville area.
The region will likely experience even more rain going forward, as AccuWeather meteorologists anticipate wet and snowy weather for the Pacific Northwest leading up to Christmas.
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