Feds: More than 40% of California out of drought

Thursday’s assessment by the U.S. Drought Monitor, which found just 2 percent of California to be in the most severe condition of “exceptional drought,” marks an astonishing turn from an historic dry period that just a year ago had 97 percent of the state listed at some level of drought and 43 percent deemed to be exceptionally dry. While the turnaround is indeed impressive, state water officials remain cautious about declaring any end to the drought after five years wrestling with supply shortages.