Gerontocrat, Yes soil moisture but also several other indexes. Satellite plant stress , surface water flows,etc.
http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/AboutUSDM/DroughtClassification.aspxIt's very dry and warm , we had one 2" rain and although that brought up the grass it is already yellowing. The main water reservoir, Lake Cachuma, rose to 50% last year with last years rains but has already dropped below 40%.
I haven't heard " ridiculous resilient ridge " as often as a couple years ago but it's there . The last time this happened we also ended up with the " blob " . I hope the " blob " doesn't return , it was very destructive to the West Coast marine nearshore ecosystems. The starfish dieoff, purple urchins barrens,kelp losses , and abalone starving in Northern Calif.