Record rainfall drenches drought-stricken California and douses wildfires

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A man attempts to stay dry while riding in Pasadena, Calif., during a rainstorm on Monday.

Sarah Reingewirtz/AP

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Sarah Reingewirtz/AP

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A wind surfer glides as a bird flies by in the rain on Monday in Long Beach, Calif.

Brittany Murray/AP

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Brittany Murray/AP

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In this photo provided by Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, falling snow collects on cars in a parking lot at Mammoth Mountain on Monday in Mammoth Lakes, Calif.

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Christian Pondella/AP

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«While this rain is welcome, it comes with these hazards, and it won’t necessarily end the drought,» Mankin said. «California still needs more precipitation, and it really needs it in high elevations and spread out over a longer time so it’s not hazardous.»

The rain should end fire season

Christy Brigham, chief of resource management and science at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, said the rain was a huge relief after the Caldor Fire torched an unknown number of the giant trees in the park, along with thousands of pines and cedars.

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The North Fork of the Kaweah River, which flows from Sequoia National Park, is seen swollen with frothy, black water on Monday, in Three Rivers, Calif.

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Cal Fire, the state firefighting agency, wasn’t ready to declare the wildfire season over or to cut staffing to winter levels. «We’d like to see some more rain coming our way before we look at reducing staffing,» spokesman Isaac Sanchez said.

The long-term forecast for California shows drier-than-normal conditions, Mankin said.

«To end different aspects of the drought, you are going to need a situation where parts of California get precipitation over the next three months that’s about 200% of normal,» he said, adding that «despite this really, really insane rainfall, the winter is probably going to be drier than average.»