We're still suffering this drought that has been going in some parts of Australia (e.g. Melbourne) since 1997. Based on scientific data like tree rings and geology it is the worst for a thousand years.
Yet, we've had a lot of rain in the past fortnight so the countryside is quite green, as are the lawns and gardens in the city. Previous droughts I've lived through --1969 and 1982 -- everything looked dead. This one may not be quite so dry as those ones which lasted maybe 18 months, but now it just goes on and on and on... Ten years and counting.
I drove past one of Melbourne's reservoirs, Maroondah, yesterday. According to the government website it is only 30% full; it must be relatively shallow, as you might see from the photo it does not look to be 70% below capacity. Weather was nice for Christmas Day, too.