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Pacific storms slammed into most of the West, dumping precipitation on the northern two-thirds of the California and Sierra Nevada. This very wet week maintained the great start to the Water Year (since Oct. 1) across the West where average precipitation was above or much above normal at nearly every major basin, and average snow-water content was at or above normal in most Western basins. Most major reservoirs in California were at or above their Jan. 10 historical average; USGS-monitored streams were at near-record or record high flows. Accordingly, major drought improvements were made not only to California but in parts of Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. Some areas in southern California, however, have yet to see any hydrologic improvements, so no changes were made there. Farther east, light to moderate precipitation fell across the eastern third of the U.S., resulting in a few improvements but mainly keeping conditions unchanged. Improvements were made on the leeward sides of the Hawaiian Islands (except Oahu) thanks to a wet December.