Special Report: Western Drought Watch: California’s ‘atmospheric rivers’ bring limited rain relief — a look at the Western drought by the numbers

Moderate to heavy rain fell across Northern California heading into a weekend that’s expected bring stormy weather to the drought-ravaged state, which is among the hardest hit as the U.S. West continues to strain under dry conditions.

The sound of drops hitting windows may be beneficial for the state’s psyche, but such sudden precipitation brings its own worries — the inability for hard ground to soak up rainfall, causing flash floods. That’s especially true for vast areas where vegetation has been scorched by wildfires….