Drought Information Statement for Southwestern California 
Valid October 1, 2025
Issued By: NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard, CA
Contact Information: weather.gov/LosAngeles
This product will be updated November 4, 2025 or sooner if drought conditions change significantly.  
Please see all currently available products at https://drought.gov/drought-information-statements.
Please visit https://www.weather.gov/LOX/DroughtInformationStatement for previous statements. 
Please visit https://www.drought.gov/drought-status-updates/?dews_region=136 for regional drought status updates.
Drier than normal conditions continue to linger in areas of southwest California. 


U.S. Drought Monitor

Drought intensity and Extent
D4 (Exceptional Drought): None at this time

D3 (Extreme Drought): None at this time

D2 (Severe Drought): Portions of Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles Counties.

D1 (Moderate Drought): Portions of Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles Counties.

D0: (Abnormally Dry): Portions of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. 

Recent Change in Drought Intensity
Four Week Drought Monitor Class Change. 

Drought Worsened: No degradation show in the area of interest over the past 4 weeks.
 
No Change: Areas shown in grey depict no drought monitor change in the past 4 weeks.

Drought Improved: No improvement show in the area of interest over the past 4 weeks.


Precipitation
Below normal precipitation has been observed across most of Southern California during the current water year (October 1, 2024 through September 29, 2025). 

Limited precipitation from monsoonal thunderstorm activity was observed in isolated areas over the past 30 days.  


Temperature
The 7-day temperature anomaly shows a mix of below normal and above normal temperatures, while the 30 day temperature anomaly is mostly below normal in Southern California.


Summary of Impacts
Hydrologic Impacts 
Precipitation deficits over the past 9 months have resulted in areas of low soil moisture and a few areas of below normal stream flow.

Agricultural Impacts
Non-irrigated pasture lands have been impacted from below normal precipitation.

Fire Hazard Impacts
Fire weather impacts are increasing at this time due to the return of drier conditions across areas of Southern California 

Other Impacts
None reported at this time

Mitigation Actions
None reported at this time


Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts
Generally normal streamflow conditions exist at this time across southern California


California snowpack 
https://cdec.water.ca.gov/snowapp/sweq.action

California water supply https://cdec.water.ca.gov/resapp/RescondMain 

Southern California water supply https://www.bewaterwise.com/water_suppl y_conditions/water_supply_conditions.pdf 

Image Caption: USGS 7 day average streamflow HUC map valid 09/27/2025

Agricultural Impacts
Below normal soil moisture and near normal crop moisture exists across southern California at this time. 

Fire Hazard Impacts
Wildland fire potential is above normal in many areas at this time due to the return of drier conditions. 



Seven Day Precipitation Forecast
Isolated precipitation is expected over the next seven days across areas of Southern California. 



Rapid Onset Drought Outlook
Ongoing drought conditions will most likely persist across southern California.



Long-Range Outlooks
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
The precipitation outlook for October 2025 is projected to be near normal across Southern California.

The temperature outlook for October 2025 is projected to be near normal across Southern California.


Drought Outlook
The latest monthly and seasonal outlooks can be found on the CPC homepage
The 1-month drought outlook for October 2025 is for drought conditions to persist across most of Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles Counties