Redding Just Smashed a 129-Year-Old Rain Record. So Why Are Experts Still Worried About Drought?

A storm that hit Redding on April 26 dropped 1.39 inches of rain, breaking a daily record for the date that had stood since 1897. But climate scientists say one big storm does not mean the drought risk is over.

April has been the saving grace for a year that started off dry. More than 4 inches of rain fell on Redding this month alone, accounting for nearly a third of the city’s total rainfall since January 1. But even with April’s help, the year-to-date total of 15.08 inches still falls several inches short of the 18.55-inch average for this point in the calendar.

The National Weather Service says there is currently about a 50/50 chance that the Redding area will experience drought conditions this summer. Fire potential is expected to remain near normal through April but then increase to above normal from May through July.

Scientists say the pattern playing out in Redding is part of a broader trend called hydroclimate whiplash, where short, intense bursts of heavy rain are separated by long stretches of dry weather. Rather than steady, moderate precipitation spread across the wet season, the rain is arriving in concentrated dumps that cause flooding and then give way to extended dry periods.

These whiplash events are becoming more common in California and worldwide as temperatures rise. The same pattern contributed to the conditions that fueled the deadly Los Angeles fires in early 2025.