Drought in California, July 1 to 31, 2015

Name: Drought in California, July 1 to 31, 2015
Start: 2015-07-01T00:00
End: 2015-07-31T23:59
Location: California

July 1 to 31, 2015 · NWS HNX · 11 events in 11 counties and zones

The California drought continues in full force during the month of July, 2015. Temperatures continued to average above normal.

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 continues in full force during the month of July, 2015. Temperatures continued to average above normal. July was a good month for precipitation as there were multiple monsoonal and tropical influxes of moisture into the area. However, this wasn't nearly enough to impact the drought situation. Rainfall totals for Fresno received 0.43 of an inch of rain, while Bakersfield received 0.04 inches.

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued to report exceptional drought conditions across the entire Central California region. This extent of exceptional drought is extremely unusual for California. The 2013-2014 water year (July 1 - June 30) concluded with Fresno setting its second driest on record (4.81 inches) and Bakersfield setting its third driest (2.41 inches). For the calendar year, 2014 was the warmest year on record for Fresno and Bakersfield. The general trend of below normal precipitation and above normal temperatures has continued this year.

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, wells drying up in several communities leaving them with no water, and an unprecedented increase in fire danger across the Southern Sierra Nevada and Tehachapi Mountains. Also, communities in Central California interior face state mandated reductions in municipal water use.

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 Jun 30, 5:44 PM PST, 6 hours 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 30, 5:44 PM PST, 6 hours 16 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
644 PM PDT TUE JUN 30 2015

.UPDATE...
UPDATED AIR QUALITY ISSUES SECTION.

&&

.SYNOPSIS...
MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES EXCEPT FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
ALONG THE SIERRA NEVADA. HIGH PRESSURE SETTLING OVER THE
AREA...DECREASING THE TROPICAL MOISTURE WHILE INCREASING
TEMPERATURES WELL ABOVE CLIMO.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 401 PM PDT TUE JUN 30 2015/

DISCUSSION...
THE MID/UPPER LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE AREA TO OUR EAST CONTINUES TO
SPIN MOISTURE ACROSS OUR AREA AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS HAVE
DEVELOPED THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS THE SOUTHERN SIERRA. A FEW CELLS
ARE ALSO INDICATED ON RADAR MOVING NORTHWEST TOWARD KERN COUNTY.
CURRENT CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO END THIS EVENING.

24 HR TEMPERATURE TRENDS ACROSS THE AREA ARE RUNNING UP AS MUCH
AS 7-14 DEGREES...WITH MOST SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY LOCATIONS INTO
TRIPLE DIGITS AND SOME DESERT SITES AROUND 110 DEGREES. RELATIVE
HUMIDITIES ARE HOWEVER GENERALLY DOWN A FEW TO SEVERAL PERCENTAGE
POINTS. THIS IS KEEPING HEAT INDEX READINGS BELOW AMBIENT
TEMPERATURES...HOWEVER IT IS STILL QUITE HOT. THERE WILL NOT BE
MUCH RELIEF OVERNIGHT AS CONDITIONS WILL BE RATHER WARM AND MUGGY.

MODELS STRETCH THE HIGH PRESSURE AREA FARTHER WEST WEDNESDAY...
ADDING A COUPLE MORE DEGREES TO OUR AFTERNOON HIGH TEMPERATURES
WHILE DRAGGING ANOTHER SLUG OF MOISTURE INTO THE AREA. THIS WILL
BRING MORE THUNDERSTORM CHANCES TO THE MOUNTAIN AND DESERT AREAS
TOMORROW...POSSIBLY IN THE DESERT ZONES BY MORNING ACCORDING TO
SHORT TERM HIGH RES MODELS. PERSONS WILL NEED TO CONTINUE TO TAKE
EXTRA CARE IN THE VERY HOT CONDITIONS.

MODELS REMAIN IN AGREEMENT ON TRACKING THE HIGH PRESSURE CENTER
BACK TO THE EAST AFTER WEDNESDAY. THIS WILL KNOCK TEMPERATURES
BACK SEVERAL DEGREES BUT STILL A FEW DEGREES ABOVE CLIMO. WITH
CONTINUING SOUTHEAST FLOW THERE WILL REMAIN A POSSIBILITY OF
THUNDERSTORMS IN THE DESERT AND MOUNTAIN AREAS THROUGH FRIDAY.

A DRIER AND LESS HOT SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL DEVELOP FOR THE WEEKEND
INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK AS THE HIGH WEAKENS WHILE A LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM MOVES TOWARD THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST.

&&

AVIATION...
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS CAN BE EXPECTED OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND KERN
COUNTY DESERTS BETWEEN THRU 04Z WED AND AGAIN AFTER 18Z WED WITH
LOCAL MVFR CEILINGS POSSIBLE OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE
SIERRA. OTHERWISE...VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THROUGHOUT THE
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

&&

.AIR QUALITY ISSUES...
ON WEDNESDAY JULY 1 2015... UNHEALTHY IN FRESNO AND KERN COUNTIES.
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS IN KINGS... MADERA... MERCED AND
TULARE COUNTIES AND SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK AND FOREST.
FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT VALLEYAIR.ORG

&&

.CERTAINTY...

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

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 06-30      112:1891     68:1982     79:2013     53:1970
KFAT 07-01      114:1891     82:1982     80:1934     53:1975
KFAT 07-02      110:1942     78:1916     78:2013     51:1956

KBFL 06-30      111:1950     78:1997     82:2009     44:1907
KBFL 07-01      115:1950     83:1911     81:2013     50:1913
KBFL 07-02      114:1950     80:1902     83:2013     51:1913

&&

.HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.

&&

PUBLIC...JDB
AVN/FW...JDB
PREV DISCUSSION...JEB
SYNOPSIS...WP

WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD

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

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
500 AM PDT TUE JUN 30 2015

CAZ096-097-011200-
SIERRA NEVADA FROM YOSEMITE TO KINGS CANYON-
TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
500 AM PDT TUE JUN 30 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF
THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA.

...THUNDERSTORMS...

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

* IMPACTS: THUNDERSTORMS MAY BRING HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND THE
  POSSIBILITY OF LOCALIZED FLOODING...ESPECIALLY OVER BURN SCAR
  AREAS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS EACH DAY WEDNESDAY THROUGH
SUNDAY...MAINLY OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

* IMPACTS: THUNDERSTORMS MAY BRING HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND THE
  POSSIBILITY OF LOCALIZED FLOODING...ESPECIALLY OVER BURN SCAR
  AREAS.

* 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.

CAZ095-011200-
KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
500 AM PDT TUE JUN 30 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS.

...REDUCED THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS...

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.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.

CAZ098-099-011200-
INDIAN WELLS VALLEY-SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT-
500 AM PDT TUE JUN 30 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE KERN COUNTY DESERT.

...THUNDERSTORMS...

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TODAY.

* IMPACTS: THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN THAT MAY
  PRODUCE FLOODING IN ARROYOS AND DRY RIVERBEDS. GUSTY WINDS ARE
  ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS
WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

* IMPACTS: THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN THAT MAY
  PRODUCE FLOODING IN ARROYOS AND DRY RIVERBEDS. GUSTY WINDS ARE
  ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

* 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.

CAZ093-094-011200-
MARIPOSA MADERA AND FRESNO COUNTY FOOTHILLS-
TULARE COUNTY FOOTHILLS-
500 AM PDT TUE JUN 30 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE FOOTHILLS OF THE
SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA.

...THUNDERSTORMS...

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS
THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

* IMPACTS: FREQUENT LIGHTNING...LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY
  WINDS MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH THESE STORMS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS
WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.

* IMPACTS: FREQUENT LIGHTNING...LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY
  WINDS MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH THESE STORMS.

* 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.

CAZ089-091-011200-
WEST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-SOUTHWESTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-
500 AM PDT TUE JUN 30 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE WEST SIDE OF THE SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY.

...THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAT...

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED...HOWEVER EXCESSIVE HEAT IS
EXPECTED TODAY AND WEDNESDAY. OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES WILL
REMAIN HIGH AS WELL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS
OVER THE TEMBLORS AND DIABLO RANGE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT. EXCESSIVE HEAT IS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY. OVERNIGHT LOW
TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN HIGH AS WELL.

* IMPACTS: FREQUENT LIGHTNING...LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY
  WINDS MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH THESE STORMS.

* 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.

CAZ090-092-011200-
EAST CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-SOUTHEASTERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY-
500 AM PDT TUE JUN 30 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE EAST SIDE OF THE SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY.

...HEAT...

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED...HOWEVER EXCESSIVE HEAT IS
EXPECTED TODAY. OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN HIGH AS
WELL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED...HOWEVER EXCESSIVE HEAT IS
EXPECTED WEDNESDAY. OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN HIGH
AS WELL.

* 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, West Central San Joaquin Valley

When: July 1, 12:00 AM PST to July 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: West Central San Joaquin Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Drought, East Central San Joaquin Valley

When: July 1, 12:00 AM PST to July 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: East Central San Joaquin Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Drought, Southwest San Joaquin Valley

When: July 1, 12:00 AM PST to July 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Southwest San Joaquin Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Drought, Southeast San Joaquin Valley

When: July 1, 12:00 AM PST to July 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Southeast San Joaquin Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Drought, South Sierra Foothills

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

Drought, Tulare County Foothills

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

Drought, Kern County Mountains

When: July 1, 12:00 AM PST to July 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Kern County Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Drought, South Sierra Mountains

When: July 1, 12:00 AM PST to July 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: South Sierra Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Drought, Tulare County Mountains

When: July 1, 12:00 AM PST to July 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Tulare County Mountains forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Drought, Indian Wells Valley

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

Drought, Southeast Kern County Desert

When: July 1, 12:00 AM PST to July 31, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Southeast Kern County 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 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in California, July 2015

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: 596262, 596263, 596264, 596265, 596266, 596267, 596268, 596269, 596270, 596271, 596272.