Some Improvement In the California Drought

I won't go into detail (now) on this type of measurement versus the rolling average/moving average measurement approach except to say this is one of the simpler and more straightforward ways to present the information.

From the Climate Prediction Center via Mike Smith Enterprises:
California Drought Improvement 

Drought in California improving due to recent rains.

Here is the National Weather Service's map showing how much rain (in addition to normal) needed to break the drought in California and surrounding areas as of December 13 at 7am.

For comparison, the December 6 map:

And, here is what the situation looked like on November 29:

...MORE

Although the two storms were not "droughtbreakers" there are signs that for the first time in three years the winter rains will approach average seasonal amounts.