California has been declared 100% drought-free for the first time in a quarter-century, but a closer look reveals some caveats. While the U.S. Drought Monitor’s latest report marks a significant milestone, officials caution that this doesn’t guarantee long-term relief for the state.

Lebanon officials are asking residents to restrict their water usage as drought conditions persist across New Hampshire. Several other towns in the state are following suit, seeking to conserve limited water resources amid a prolonged lack of rainfall.

Relief from soaring heat in the Southwest is providing a welcome break, yet regions to the north face a dire condition as wildfires flare up with new intensity. Experts point to climate change as the underlying driver of these extreme weather shifts, linking surging temperatures and drought to the risk of devastating blazes.