Experts: 'We Need About 75 Inches Of Rain Before The End Of This Year'

BURBANK (CBSLA.com) — Recent storms in Southern California have provided much-needed rain for the area, but there still is long way to go before drought conditions are lifted.

KCAL9's Dave Bryan shared how the rain is affecting drought conditions.

"We're dealing with three years of really low rainfall and snowfall, so it's going to take a lot to make a difference," said Martin Adams, deputy senior assistant general manager for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

Bryan reported water is being caught upstream in the San Fernando Valley.

Water from the storms is also being pushed through areas like the Los Angeles River; however, it then enters the ocean, which doesn't do anything for the drought.

"We do know a few superstorms can make a huge difference for us," Adams added. "Most of our water at this point comes from the Sierra Nevada Mountains, so we rely on a healthy snow impact."

Although we may not be close to wiping out the drought, experts say, rain and snow have had impact on drought conditions in the past, some of which create overly wet conditions the following year.

"It's not uncommon to have extremes," said Authur Hinojosa, chief of hydrology and food operations for the California Department of Water Resources. "We've had years that ended drought conditions, that by and large filled reservoirs."

According to experts, we need about 75 inches of rain before the end of this year to overcome the drought.