California, 2007

Drought in California, October 1 to 31, 2007

October 1 to 31, 2007 · NWS SGX · 11 events in 11 counties and zones

The National Drought Monitor continued to indicate D3 extreme drought conditions for the entire SGX CWA for the 6th consecutive month. This was due to non-irrigated agriculture and native vegetation stresses, extreme fire danger, water shortages, and water useage restrictions.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
11

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS SGX wrote it up.

The National Drought Monitor continued to indicate D3 extreme drought conditions for the entire SGX CWA for the 6th consecutive month. This was due to non-irrigated agriculture and native vegetation stresses, extreme fire danger, water shortages, and water useage restrictions. The continued drought in the Colorado River watershed, continued drought in Southern California, and a court-ordered reduction in water supplies from the Sacramento River Delta raised serious concerns about a possible water crisis in the local area.

The drought in combination with strong Santa Ana winds created an explosive fire situation late in the month. At least 14 large, wind-driven wildfires burned more than 400,000 acres and destroyed thousands of structures and vehicles. Approximately one million Californians were forced to evacuate during the October 2007 wildfires. It was the largest mass evacuation in the state's 157-year history.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Apple and Lucerne Valleys

When
October 1, 12:01 AM PST to October 31, 12:00 AM PST
Where
Apple and Lucerne Valleys forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Coachella Valley

When
October 1, 12:01 AM PST to October 31, 12:00 AM PST
Where
Coachella Valley forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
33.744, -115.994 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Orange County Coastal Areas

When
October 1, 12:01 AM PST to October 31, 12:00 AM PST
Where
Orange County Coastal Areas forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet

Drought, Riverside County Mountains

When
October 1, 12:01 AM PST to October 31, 12:00 AM PST
Where
Riverside County Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
33.744, -115.994 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire

When
October 1, 12:01 AM PST to October 31, 12:00 AM PST
Where
San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
34.293, -116.086 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, San Bernardino County Mountains

When
October 1, 12:01 AM PST to October 31, 12:00 AM PST
Where
San Bernardino County Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, San Diego County Coastal Areas

When
October 1, 12:01 AM PST to October 31, 12:00 AM PST
Where
San Diego County Coastal Areas forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, San Diego County Deserts

When
October 1, 12:01 AM PST to October 31, 12:00 AM PST
Where
San Diego County Deserts forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, San Diego County Mountains

When
October 1, 12:01 AM PST to October 31, 12:00 AM PST
Where
San Diego County Mountains forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, San Diego County Valleys

When
October 1, 12:01 AM PST to October 31, 12:00 AM PST
Where
San Diego County Valleys forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
33.028, -116.770 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Drought, Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills

When
October 1, 12:01 AM PST to October 31, 12:00 AM PST
Where
Santa Ana Mountains and Foothills forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
33.483, -116.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Drought
A drought reaching severe (D2) or worse on the US Drought Monitor, or with notable impacts.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in California in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyWarnings in California, October 2007

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 64396, 64397, 64398, 64399, 64400, 64401, 64402, 64403, 64404, 64405, 64406.