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So Much For A Dry, 'La Niña' Winter In California

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - This was supposed to be a cold, dry "La Niña" winter in California, but so far, it's been anything but, with many of the state's reservoirs already full, and spilling over.

KCBS' Doug Sovern Reports:

Shasta and Folsom lakes are both releasing water because they're too full. Much of California has gotten an unexpectedly strong soaking according to Paul Helliker, general manager of the Marin Municipal Water District.

"Our water storage is now at 131 percent of normal for this time of year, and is about 91 percent of our total capacity," said Helliker.

Scientists say we're in a La Niña pattern, with colder than normal ocean temperatures in the Pacific. But La Niñas aren't supposed to be this wet. Marin, for example, has already had 140 percent of its normal rainfall.

We could still have a very dry January and February, but even if we do California should be all set just from the rains of November and December, Helliker said.

"The number that we're at right now in our reservoirs is right about where we usually end the rainy season, so it should be okay even if we didn't get another drop of rain, and that's not going to happen because we expect more this weekend," said Helliker.

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