Will the California storms end the state's extreme drought?

'We are soaked - this place is soaked,' Governor Gavin Newsom says

After days of rain, Bear Creek in Merced, California, overflowed its banks, flooding dozens of homes and vehicles. AP

People look at storm debris on the beach, with a storm-damaged pier in the background, in Capitola. Getty / AFP

A dead sea lion on a beach in Aptos. Getty / AFP

The San Francisco Bay Area and much of northern California continues to get drenched by powerful atmospheric river events. Getty / AFP

A hailstorm in San Francisco. Reuters

Angeles Molina carries belongings from her home flooded by the overflowing Bear Creek in Merced. AP

Residents scramble to retrieve belongings before flood waters rise too high in Merced. AFP

San Diego firefighters help Humberto Maciel rescue his dog from his flooded home in Merced. AFP

Fidel Osorio rescues a dog from a flooded home in Merced. AFP

San Diego firefighter Brian Sanford rescues a dog from a flooded home. AFP

Water rushes down a street towards rescue crews as they search for stranded residents. AFP

A flooded street after a rain storm on Treasure Island in San Francisco. Bloomberg

Workers remove damaged items from a shop flooded during a rainstorm in San Francisco. Bloomberg

A vehicle trapped by mud and debris at Jameson Lane near the 101 highway in Montecito. AP

A mudslide covers a road after a storm in Montecito. Bloomberg

California Governor Gavin Newsom warned residents that the storm is far from over. AP

Waves break over the seawall in Pacifica. Bloomberg

Cars stuck in a flooded underpass in Oakland. AP

Huge amounts of snow dumped during storms around south Lake Tahoe. AP

A fallen tree blocks a road after a rainstorm in Montecito. Bloomberg

The posh Montecito Inn in Santa Barbara has flooded again. Bloomberg

A convenience store in Santa Barbara was flooded during the storm. Bloomberg

The San Francisco Department of Public Works removes a tree that fell on Fulton Street after a storm passed through the area. Getty / AFP

A tree that fell on a commuter bus in San Francisco. Getty / AFP

Two cars were sucked into a sinkhole that opened during a day of relentless rain near Los Angeles. AFP

California has experienced an onslaught of torrential rains from at least six atmospheric rivers this winter but one question is on the minds of many: Will this bring an end to the historic drought in the western US state?

“We are soaked — this place is soaked,” Governor Gavin Newsom said of the record rains on Tuesday.

While weather predictions forecast three more atmospheric rivers on the way, climate experts say the wet weather will not end the drought — but it certainly is helping curb conditions and filling reservoirs.

“Nearly all of California has seen much above average rainfall totals over the past several weeks, with totals 400-600 per cent above average values,” the National Weather Service, or NWS, said in a statement on Tuesday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last week recorded extreme and exceptional drought throughout the state and predicted that conditions would improve in the beginning of the year.

The NWS this week reported that some regions have recorded one to two drought class improvements because of the rains.

However, the record level of rains are still not enough to halt the drought that has plagued most of the Golden State, with fierce wildfires, water restrictions, energy shortages and power cuts occurring for years.

“The one benefit of above normal rainfall in California is the relief from persistent drought that has been plaguing the state for quite some time,” one NWS briefing read on Tuesday.

The atmospheric rivers are not the answer as the weather systems are slim in size and not affecting every drought-impacted region in the state, including Northern California.

The rains are filling reservoirs that have been at record low levels in recent years, but some are so large that the atmospheric rivers will not be able to fill them back to normal levels.

The wet weather is also bringing snowfall to California's mountains, while concerns are that the state's new climate will not allow for the snow to stick around to combat drought conditions.