Wet February causes big dent in California drought conditions

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- February storms have caused a significant dent in California's drought conditions.

The U.S. Drought Monitor said Thursday that just over 67 percent of the state is totally free of any level of dryness.

Just under 30 percent is classified as abnormally dry, and less than 4 percent remains in either moderate or severe drought.

The drought conditions are confined to a far northern area along the California-Oregon border.

Three months ago, more than three-quarters of the state was in moderate to extreme drought and the remainder was abnormally dry.

Still, officials said the state needs more water in the reserves.

"Both of our imported water supplies have been stressed over the last several years. It takes a while to really rebuild or get back to where we were. There is a deficit in both of the watersheds associated with our imported water supplies. It takes more than one really wet year to get out of that," said Demetri Polyzos with the Metropolitan Water District.

Officials said residents should continue to conserve rain water for when the year and others become dry again.

Rain periodically fell Thursday in areas all over California as a cold but not very moist system impacted Southern California and showers lingered on the Central Coast. Chances of rain return to Northern California during the weekend and early next week.

If you would like to see the latest drought conditions across the country and side by side comparisons click here.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.