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California Drought: Northern California Having Driest February Since 1864

/in , /by /The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.)by Paul Rogers

With unusually dry, hot weather continuing for weeks on end and the driest February in the Bay Area in 156 years, nearly a quarter of California’s land area now is under drought conditions, federal officials announced Thursday.

Altogether, 23.3% of the state is in “moderate drought” — up from 9.5% last week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, a weekly report issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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Sierra Snowpack Withering in California’s Dry Winter. New Satellite Image Shows the Bad News

/in , , /by /The Sacramento Bee by Dale Kasler

The image is disturbing and leaves little doubt about California’s growing predicament: The snowpack in the Sierra Nevada is a sad whisper of it was a year ago, a withering testament to the lack of precipitation in the state’s increasingly dry winter.

The National Weather Service tweeted satellite images of the Sierra on Tuesday, showing the stark difference between this year and the above-average snowfall from 2019. The mountain snowpack — a crucial element in the state’s annual water supply — is 53 percent of normal for this time of year, according to the Department of Water Resources.

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See how Sparse the Sierra Nevada Snowpack Looks Compared to Last Year

/in , /by /The Mercury Newsby Paul Rogers

Two NASA satellite images released late Monday by the National Weather Service office in Sacramento starkly illustrate how much less snow is covering the Sierra Nevada this week compared to the same time a year ago.

The images, taken from roughly 438 miles above Earth, show California’s Sierra Nevada range. In the first, from Feb. 18, 2019, the region is blanketed with snow. On that day, the snowpack, which is the source of about one-third of the state’s annual water supply, was at 147% of its historical statewide average for that date.

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Rain and Snow Return, but it Won’t be Enough to Quench Northern California’s Needs

/in , , /by /The Sacramento Beeby Dale Kasler

More rain and snow area headed to Northern California on Tuesday, although the storm won’t be nearly enough to make up for what’s been a relatively dry January.

The National Weather Service said rain is expected to start falling at around 7 a.m. Tuesday, just in time for the morning commute. Light snow should hit the Sierra Nevada a couple of hours later, said NWS forecaster Craig Shoemaker.

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Fast-Moving Storm Could Bring Rain, Snow to San Diego County

/in , /by /KPBSby City News Service

A fast-moving storm will bring a chance of rain and snow in San Diego County Thursday before exiting by midday Friday, according to the National Weather Service. The cold front moving down the coast is expected to bring a drop in temperatures, gusty winds out of the west, a chance of rain everywhere except deserts areas and a chance of snow in the mountains, forecasters said.

The rain is expected to start falling this evening, then linger overnight before the storm system leaves by Friday afternoon. Rainfall totals could reach 1 inch in the mountains, while a quarter- inch of rain is expected in coastal areas and the western valleys.

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Snow Levels Dipping And Widespread Rain Is On Tap For Southern California This Week

/in , /by /Los Angeles Times by Hannah Fry

Break out the umbrellas and hang onto those heavy coats because the region’s first significant winter storm of 2020 is expected to unleash rain and snow Thursday.

After what has been a mostly dry January, a chilly winter storm is expected to move into the northern portion of the state Tuesday before making its way down the coast to Los Angeles County by late Thursday morning.

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San Diego’s Winter Dry Spell to Last Until at Least Thursday

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Gary Robbins

After a wet start to the rainy season, San Diego is in the midst of a dry spell that will last until at least Thursday and possibly a lot longer, says the National Weather Service.

Cool air is flowing into the region from the northwest, keeping temperatures slightly below average. Forecasters say San Diego’s daytime high will be in the 63 to 64 degree range for most of the week.

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2019 Started and Ended Wet in San Diego; Heat Was Less Persistent

/in , /by /San Diego Union-Tribuneby Robert Krier

Last year came in and went out like a wet lion in San Diego County. In between, it was a relatively tranquil, although not uneventful weather year.

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December Has Been Wet in California, But a Predicted Dry Winter Means Wildfire Danger Could Return Early

/in , /by /KTLA 5 Los Angelesby Erika Martin

Southern California’s wettest December in nearly a decade quashed any danger lingering from destructive wildfires in fall, but experts warn that red flag conditions could return as early as April.

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Enough Rain? Sufficient Snow? Here’s How Wet California, and Sacramento, Got in 2019

/in , /by /The Sacramento Beeby California Department of Water Resources

It’s a new year, and a time to take stock in California’s most precious commodity: water.

While October marks the start of the new water year, state hydrology leaders opened the new year with the first measure of snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, east of Sacramento.

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