California water restrictions eased for millions after atmospheric river storms

Nearly back-to-back storms have refilled reservoirs and built up snowpack, easing drought as residents reckon with destruction

Drought-busting rainfall from California’s 11th atmospheric river has brought the end of water restrictions for nearly 7 million people, which imposed limits on activities such as outdoor watering as the state grappled with severe shortages.

Wednesday’s decision by the metropolitan water district of southern California brought a measure of relief, even as residents struggled to clean up before the next round of winter arrives in the coming days. The board had imposed the restrictions in parts of Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties last year, but a winter of nearly back-to-back storms have refilled reservoirs and built up a monumental snowpack.