While a wetter winter may seem beneficial for California's water supply, the state's reservoirs are already at or above historical averages, with Lake Shasta and Lake Oroville at 100% and 113% of their historical averages, respectively. This leaves limited capacity to store additional water from potential heavy storms, increasing the risk of flooding. Additionally, a warmer winter could lead to more rain and less snow, reducing the long-term water storage provided by the Sierra Nevada snowpack. This scenario could result in rapid runoff, overwhelming rivers and reservoirs, and heightening the risk of flooding, particularly during atmospheric river events.