Drought in California, May 1 to 31, 2014

Name: Drought in California, May 1 to 31, 2014
Start: 2014-05-01T00:00
End: 2014-05-31T23:59
Location: California

May 1 to 31, 2014 · NWS HNX · 11 events in 11 counties and zones

The California drought continued in full force during the month of May, 2014. S.

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 HNX wrote it up.

The California drought continued in full force during the month of May, 2014. Extreme to Exceptional drought was detected by the U.S. Drought Monitor for almost the entire Central California region. This extent of exceptional drought is extremely unusual for California. In addition precipitation deficits continue to mount as the region was nearing the end of the rainy season with continued deficits. As the 2013-2014 winter progresses, little rain has fallen across California.

There continues to be significant media coverage on the on-going drought conditions. These reports include discussion of significant re-allocation of water resources from the east to west side of the San Joaquin Valley, farmers forgoing planting of some crops, a decrease in the snow-related tourism activity in the Southern Sierra Nevada, reduction in air quality due to persistent stagnant air, loss or reduction of ground water, and an unprecedented increase in fire danger across the Southern Sierra Nevada and Tehachapi Mountains. For the first time on record, red flag warnings were issued in January for not only the Southern Sierra Nevada and the Tehachapi Mountains but also the south end of the San Joaquin Valley.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Hanford, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 30, 4:20 PM PST, 7 hours 40 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 30, 4:20 PM PST, 7 hours 40 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
520 PM PDT WED APR 30 2014

.UPDATE...UPDATED AIR QUALITY ISSUES SECTION.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN OVER THE REGION FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS
BRINGING MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES AND A DAY TO DAY WARMING TREND THROUGH
THURSDAY WITH LITTLE CHANGE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. SEVERAL DEGREES OF
CO0LING CAN BE EXPECTED SUNDAY AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK AS A TROUGH
OF LOW PRESSURE MOVES ACROSS THE AREA.

&&

DISCUSSION...HIGH AMPLITUDE UPPER RIDGE OVER THE WESTERN CONUS IS
PROVIDING OUR AREA WITH MAINLY CLEAR SKIES AND SUMMER LIKE
TEMPERATURES TODAY. MEANWHILE A STRONG SURFACE HIGH HAS BECOME
SITUATED OVER THE GREAT BASIN WHILE AN INVERTED SURFACE THERMAL
TROUGH HAS FORMED OVER CA. INTERACTION BETWEEN THE GREAT BASIN
HIGH AND THE THERMAL TROUGH HAS BROUGHT INCREASED OFFSHORE SURFACE
P-GRADS TO OUR AREA RESULTING IN STRONG DOWNSLOPE WINDS OVER THE
VALLEY FACING SLOPES OF THE TEHACHAPI MOUNTAINS AND THE FAR SOUTH
END OF THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. THE STRONG WINDS HAVE CONTINUED
INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS SO WE HAVE DECIDED TO EXTEND THE WIND
ADVISORY UNTIL 3 PM PDT TODAY. SURFACE PROGS ARE INDICATING THAT
GRADIENTS WILL DECREASE RAPIDLY LATER THIS AFTERNOON WHICH WILL
ALLOW FOR THE STRONG WINDS TO SUBSIDE. 12Z WRF INDICATES THAT THE
RIDGE WILL HOLD FIRM ON THURSDAY. WITH THICKNESSES AND 850 MB
TEMPERATURES STILL PROGGED TO NUDGE UPWARD...AFTERNOON
TEMPERATURES ON THURSDAY WILL BE SLIGHTLY WARMER THAN TODAY. THE
RIDGE IS PROGGED TO SHIFT INLAND AND FLATTEN ON FRIDAY AND
SATURDAY AS A LARGE UPPER LOW PRESSURE CENTER APPROACHES THE PAC
NW. WITH AN UNSEASONABLY WARM AIRMASS IN PLACE OVER THE
AREA...DON/T EXPECT MUCH IN THE WAY OF MODIFICATION ON FRIDAY WITH
TEMPERATURES REMAINING UNSEASONABLY WARM FOR EARLY MAY. DO EXPECT
SOME COOLING TO TAKE PLACE BY SATURDAY IN RESPONSE TO LOWERING
HEIGHTS AND THICKNESSES.

THE 12Z RUNS OF THE MEDIUM RANGE MODELS DIFFER IN HANDLING THE
UPPER LOW AND THE ASSOCIATED TROUGH THAT WILL MOVE ACROSS CA EARLY
NEXT WEEK AND BRING MUCH COOLER TEMPERATURES TO OUR AREA. THE GFS
PUSHES THE UPPER TROUGH INTO CA ON SUNDAY THEN DEEPEN IT ON MONDAY
WITH THEM MAIN UPPER LOW CENTER MOVING ACROSS OUR AREA ON TUESDAY
BEFORE IT MOVES EAST OF OUR AREA ON WEDNESDAY. THE ECMWF INDICATES
MORE OF AN OPEN WAVE TROUGH MOVING ACROSS CA ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
SINCE THE MODELS HAVE BEEN LACKING RUN TO RUN CONSISTENCY WITH
THEIR PLACEMENT AND TIMING WITH THIS FEATURE...HAVE DECIDED TO NOT
CHANGE THE EXTENDED PERIOD TOO MUCH. WILL KEEP MENTION OF A SLIGHT
CHANCE OF SHOWERS OVER THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA FROM MONDAY NIGHT
ONWARD AND KEEP TEMPERATURES WILL BE A BIT BELOW NORMAL FOR EARLY
MAY FOR MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

&&

.AVIATION...
A SANTA WIND PATTERN WILL PROVIDE STRONG WIND GUSTS OF 35 KNOTS OR
GREATER THROUGH THE TEHACHAPI MOUNTAIN PASSES THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY.
OTHERWISE VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL ACROSS THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
INTERIOR DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AIR QUALITY IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY.
MINIMIZE CAR TRIPS BY UTILIZING ONLINE SERVICES. FOR MORE INFORMATION
VISIT VALLEYAIR.ORG

&&

.CERTAINTY...

THE LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR DAYS 1 AND 2 IS HIGH.
THE LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR DAYS 3 THROUGH 7 IS MEDIUM.

THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AS PART OF A TRIAL PROJECT CONDUCTED
BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD.
CERTAINTY LEVELS INCLUDE LOW...MEDIUM...AND HIGH. PLEASE VISIT
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HNX/CERTAINTY.PHP /ALL LOWER CASE/ FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND/OR TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK.

&&

.CLIMATE...
             RECORDS
SITE DATE    HI_MAX:YEAR LO_MAX:YEAR HI_MIN:YEAR LO_MIN:YEAR

KFAT 04-30      100:1981     52:1915     63:1981     37:1951
KFAT 05-01      101:1947     57:1955     62:2006     38:1899
KFAT 05-02      101:1947     59:1938     64:1947     40:1964

KBFL 04-30      101:1981     55:1955     68:1981     38:1915
KBFL 05-01      102:1947     55:1915     67:1981     37:1988
KBFL 05-02      101:1947     65:1921     67:1909     38:1915
&&

.HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
RED FLAG WARNING FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM PDT THURSDAY CAZ095.

&&

PUBLIC...MENDENHALL
AVN/FW...MENDENHALL
SYNOPSIS...PJ

WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 30, 4:00 AM PST, 20 hours before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
500 AM PDT WED APR 30 2014

CAZ095-301900-
KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
500 AM PDT WED APR 30 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS.

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON PDT TODAY.

...GUSTY WINDS...

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON PDT TODAY FOR THE EXTREME
SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AND VALLEY FACING
FOOTHILLS. SEE SFONPWHNX FOR DETAILS. OTHERWISE...NO HAZARDOUS
WEATHER EXPECTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

* WINDS: WEST WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH...STRONGEST
  GUSTS EXPECTED NEAR THE PASSES AND CANYONS.

* TIMING: WINDS INCREASING SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: HIGHWAY 178 THROUGH THE WALKER PASS...HIGHWAY
  58 THROUGH THE TEHACHAPI PASS.

* IMPACTS: DRIVERS OF HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES WILL NEED TO TAKE
  CAUTION IF ENCOUNTERING AREAS OF GUSTY WINDS...STRONG CROSSWINDS
  ARE POSSIBLE AT TIMES. BLOWING DUST WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE WITH
  VISIBILITY AT ONE MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.

* STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR FAVORITE NEWS
  SOURCE...FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT OR
UNUSUAL CONDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

CAZ098-099-301900-
INDIAN WELLS VALLEY-SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT-
500 AM PDT WED APR 30 2014

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE KERN COUNTY DESERT.

...GUSTY WINDS...

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

* WINDS: WEST WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH...STRONGEST
  GUSTS EXPECTED NEAR THE PASSES AND CANYONS.

* TIMING: WINDS INCREASING SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: HIGHWAY 178 BELOW THE WALKER PASS...HIGHWAY
  58 BELOW THE TEHACHAPI PASS INCLUDING THE CITY OF MOJAVE...
  HIGHWAY 14 AND U.S. 395.

* IMPACTS: DRIVERS OF HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES WILL NEED TO TAKE
  CAUTION IF ENCOUNTERING AREAS OF GUSTY WINDS...STRONG CROSSWINDS
  ARE POSSIBLE AT TIMES. BLOWING DUST WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE WITH
  VISIBILITY AT ONE MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.

* STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...OR YOUR FAVORITE NEWS
  SOURCE...FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT OR
UNUSUAL CONDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

SANGER

WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD

Event by event

11 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, W Central S.J. Valley

When: May 1, 12:00 AM PST to May 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: W Central S.J. Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Drought, E Central S.J. Valley

When: May 1, 12:00 AM PST to May 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: E Central S.J. Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Drought, Sw S.J. Valley

When: May 1, 12:00 AM PST to May 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Sw S.J. Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Drought, Se S.J. Valley

When: May 1, 12:00 AM PST to May 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Se S.J. Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Drought, S Sierra Foothills

When: May 1, 12:00 AM PST to May 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: S Sierra Foothills forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Drought, Tulare Cty Foothills

When: May 1, 12:00 AM PST to May 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Tulare Cty Foothills forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Drought, Kern Cty Mtns

When: May 1, 12:00 AM PST to May 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Kern Cty Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Drought, S Sierra Mtns

When: May 1, 12:00 AM PST to May 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: S Sierra Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Drought, Tulare Cty Mtns

When: May 1, 12:00 AM PST to May 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Tulare Cty Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Drought, Indian Wells Vly

When: May 1, 12:00 AM PST to May 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Indian Wells Vly forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Drought, Se Kern Cty Desert

When: May 1, 12:00 AM PST to May 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Se Kern Cty Desert forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

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

Every storm in California in 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in California, May 2014

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 510046, 510047, 510048, 510049, 510050, 510051, 510052, 510053, 510054, 510055, 510056.