California drought-free for 1st time since 2011

The National Drought Mitigation Center says California is free of drought for the first time since Dec. 20, 2011.

The center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln says California experienced some form of drought for 376 consecutive weeks.

The center and federal agencies jointly produce the U.S. Drought Monitor, which reported that a very wet winter has eliminated drought from California and less than 7 percent of its territory remains in the lesser condition of abnormal dryness.