Happy New (Rain) Year! Drought looks unlikely heading into 2026
Happy New Year! (Don’t forget your umbrella!)
Sacramento ends one year and begins another on the soggy side as another atmospheric river will keep rain in our forecast for several days.
Think of it as not another rainy holiday but water in the bank for the New Year.
So far, Sacramento is well above average in terms of seasonal precipitation. Since the start of our current Water Year on Oct. 1, Sacramento has received more than 7 inches of rain. Normal for those three months: About 5.6 inches. That’s 25% above average.
More rain is on the way with another 2 inches (or more) expected from this current storm system.
According to the National Weather Service, “definite rain showers and thunderstorms” are in Sacramento’s forecast off and on through Tuesday, Jan. 6.
For weather updates: https://www.weather.gov/sto/.
The long-range forecast pegs January – usually one of Sacramento’s rainiest months – as having above-average precipitation. The weather service predicts 33 to 40% chances of more rain than normal for the next two weeks.
As for drought, the greater Sacramento area is squarely in “no drought” territory for this rainy season and foreseeable 2026.
This moisture can reinvigorate trees, shrubs and perennials that have coped with several recent drought years. It also makes this a good winter to consider adding such major plants to the landscape. (Just wait until soil dries out a little; soggy soil will rot roots.)
In fact, the best time to plant for a dry summer is a wet winter. This rain will help plants develop deep roots and get established much faster. It’s an excellent time to consider installing a water-wise landscape.
Need ideas? Check out the water-wise plant database and other resources at BeWaterSmart.info featuring more than 1,800 plants. Find photo galleries, suggested garden layouts and much more to help bring your garden resolutions to reality.
You’ll also find links to rebates for irrigation updates, lawn removal programs and other useful information.
