More than 80 percent of California is no longer in drought after a series of winter storms, according to the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor report.

That’s a dramatic turnaround from a year ago at this time when 82 percent of the state was in a “severe” drought during an historic five-year dry spell.

The latest report even showed improvement for parts of Southern California that have been struggling to escape severe drought.

"Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, which have been the epicenter of drought in California in recent weeks, received much-needed rainfall," according to the Drought Monitor report.

The Monitor features four drought categories -- moderate, severe, extreme and exceptional. No part of the state is in extreme drought for the first time since August 2013.

More details here.

Source: Los Angeles Times