A surge in rainfall across California has filled the Millerton Reservoir to above-average levels compared to seasonal trends.
As of 12 a.m. Thursday, the Millerton Lake reservoir was filled at 52% of its total capacity, which is 116% of the historical average for this time of year, according to data provided by the California Department of Water Resources. Millerton’s current surface elevation sits at 517 feet.
On average, the reservoir is filled at 232,453 acre-feet at this time of year, according to state data. As of Thursday, the lake had filled to 269,373 acre-feet.
Millerton has a full capacity of 520,500 acre-feet.
Storage increased by about 10,400 acre-feet compared to the prior week, according to a report released Friday from the Friant Water Authority.
“We are off to a pretty good start for our typical wet season so far,” said Brian Ochs, a lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Hanford.
Millerton Lake is a federal water storage facility along the San Joaquin River in Friant about 10 miles north of Fresno. Millerton Lake was created in 1944 by Friant Dam and supplies Central Valley Project water users. The lake covers 4,900 acres when full, according to California State Parks.
Most of California’s major reservoirs are filled above their normal levels for this type of year after rains covered much of the state late last week, according to an analysis of state data by SF Gate.
Water from Millerton Lake is just starting to flow over the spillway of Friant Dam and into the San Joaquin River in Friant on Thursday, July 13, 2023.
Fresno sees record-level rain in November
Ochs said this month has been one of the rainiest Novembers on record in Fresno.
“Normally, by this time of November usually the average is about just over half an inch (.54 inch),” he said.
As of Nov. 20, Fresno had already received 2.86 inches of rain, he said.
This means the month, so far, has been the sixth-wettest November on record in Fresno, Ochs said.
The above-average seasonal rains have also led to removing the drought in much of the San Joaquin Valley area, he said.
For now, Valley residents should expect dense fog in the morning and nights due to the influx of moisture.
“At least through next week. Probably as far as the holiday weekend,” Ochs said.
Fresno State fans cheer while watching the Bulldogs game against Wyoming in heavy rain at Valley Children’s Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2025.