For a few weeks there, Monterey County was wet again. The nearly 10 inches that fell at San Clemente Dam made 2014 the second-wettest local December in 50 years.
But the severe California drought isn't over, officials with the National Weather Service report. Not by a long shot.
The updated U.S. Drought Monitor, published Thursday morning, shows only a very slight improvement, with most of the state stuck in "extreme" or "exceptional" drought status.
Over the past three years, NWS reports, the statewide drought has gotten worse, with last month's rain bringing only one improvement: a patch from Northern San Mateo County to Marin County has been downgraded from "extreme" to "severe" drought.
Substantial rain is unlikely in the Monterey Bay region for the rest of this (so far quite sunny) month, NWS reports, though we may get some light showers.