We’re only in the early stages of the rainy season. But the National Weather Service says the Northern Sierra is off to the wettest start in 32 years. Mountain conditions are considered critical drought busters, especially the snowpack. Meteorologist Eric Kurtz says while November is barely average, October was four times above average. He is also encouraged, when looking at the last 11 wettest starts going back to 1920…

click to listen to Eric Kurtz

The one year that was not above normal, after such a wet start, was the last season that occurred, in 1984. But Kurtz says even though the Northern Sierra was also above average last year, the rest of the state was not…

click to listen to Eric Kurtz

Which is why, Kurtz says, California, as a whole, is in a fifth year of drought. And the State Department of Water Resources is still cautious, saying its customers can expect to receive only 20% of their requested deliveries in 2017. But it was 10% a year ago, and eventually improved to 60%. And looking at two major North State reservoirs: Shasta Lake is at 7% above its normal capacity for this time of year. But it’s 30% below normal for Lake Oroville.