California, 2015

Drought in California, June 1 to 30, 2015

June 1 to 30, 2015 · NWS STO · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

The long term drought continued through June with yet another below normal month for precipitation for much of the area. There was some mountain rain, but much of it was focused along and east of the crest.

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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 STO wrote it up.

The long term drought continued through June with yet another below normal month for precipitation for much of the area. There was some mountain rain, but much of it was focused along and east of the crest. Without a snow pack, reservoirs across the area by the end of the month were at well below normal levels and were continuing to drop.

Extreme drought was detected by the U.S. Drought Monitor across most the region, with exceptional drought for the northern San Joaquin Valley, the central and southern Sacramento Valley, the Burney Basin and the Sierra south of Interstate 80.

Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency for the entire state of California January 17, 2014 and this continued to be in effect.

As a result of continuing drought conditions, emergency legislation appropriated over $1 billion of additional funds for drought-related projects and activities. |The Administration’s May Revision proposal includes an additional $2.2 billion for programs that protect and expand local water supplies, improve water conservation, and provide immediate relief to impacted communities.

Local Emergency Proclamations have been issued for El Dorado, Glenn, Lake, Plumas, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sutter, Tuolumne, and Yuba counties. The cities of Live Oak Lodi, and Ripon continue in a drought emergency. Drought task forces have been established in Butte, Lake, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tuolumne, and Yolo counties to coordinate response to the drought.

Mandatory water reductions of 25 percent as ordered by Governor Brown continue to be in effect statewide, the first time such mandatory restrictions have been enacted.

Agriculture has been heavily impacted, with numerous farm and farm related jobs lost. The state continued to supply food assistance to those impacted. California Disaster Assistance Act money continued to be provided for those who have lost drinking water due to dry wells.

Additional impacts included low runoff in streams and rivers on fish and ecological affects on forests and wildlife.

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 Sacramento, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 31, 9:05 PM PST, 2 hours 55 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 9:05 PM PST, 2 hours 55 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA
1005 PM PDT Sun May 31 2015

.Synopsis...
Cooler weather returns during the early part of the week along
with a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly over the
mountains. Slightly warmer temperatures will be possible by the
end of the week.

&&

.Discussion...
Strong delta breeze ongoing this evening with gusts to 40 mph
through the delta and 30 mph into the valley. A few showers over
the northern coastal range and may shift into Shasta county the
next few hours. No evening update will be needed.

.Previous Discussion...
Plentiful high-clouds and cooler temperatures have spread across
the interior of NorCal today as the trough just offshore
approaches. Temperatures inland have cooled about 5-10 degrees
compared to 24 hours ago and range from the upper 60s and 70s in
the mountains to the 70s to mid 80s in the Central Valley.

Negative-tilt short-wave off the coast will lift mostly north
northeastward and brush the northwest corner of the state this
evening. Main impacts will be to the north over Oregon, but the
northern Coast Range and northern mountains will likely see some
shower and thunderstorm development.

Secondary short-wave following on the heels of the initial wave will
move into NorCal along with the surface front late tonight and
Monday morning, and indications are that a few showers will be
possible about as far south as I-80 as the system has a tap to
moisture plume forecast to approach an inch TPW. May see some
areas of drizzle develop as well in the Delta and southern
Sacramento Valley as the marine layer lifts.

Weak trough lingers over the area into mid-week, but shower
chances are expected to retreat to far northern California by
Tuesday, with just a slight chance of an isolated late day shower
or thunderstorm near Mt. Lassen and over the Coast Range by
Wednesday. Temperatures are expected to warm a bit heading into
mid-week, but still near to slightly below average for early June.

&&

.Extended Discussion (Thursday through Sunday)

Extended models are in good agreement with bringing a closed low
over the region starting on Thursday. The low will stay over the
region through the weekend but become more centered over Southern
California for Friday and Saturday and then become centered over
the Great Basin for Sunday. Shower and Thunderstorm chances will
likely start to develop on Thursday along the coastal range and
over the northern Sacramento Valley and the interior mountains.
Each day there will be afternoon and evening convection.
Precipitable waters become fairly high by next weekend so I would
expect some heavy rainfall to accompany any thunderstorm activity.
Especially from Friday through next weekend. The better hail and
wind outflows from any thunderstorms look to occur on Thursday
before the higher Precipitable waters set in.

&&

.Aviation...

Generally VFR conditions with mid and high clouds over the area
except stratus will spread inland through the Delta after 08z.
Local SW wind gusts to 30 knots through Carquinez Strait/Delta
and over Sierra ridgetops. Showers and isolated thunderstorms
possible this evening along the coastal range. Chances of showers
or drizzle in the valley spread inland after 08z along with IFR
cigs.

&&

.STO Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
None.
&&

Event by event

7 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Carquinez Strait and Delta

When
June 1, 12:00 AM PST to June 30, 11:59 PM PST
Where
Carquinez Strait and Delta forecast zone
Reported by
Newspaper

Construction of a $40 million temporary drought barrier on the West False River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta was completed. This barrier is used to keep tidal salt water from contaminating drinking water to Bay Area residents. The State Water Resources Control Board has a program that allowed riparian water right holders in the Delta to voluntarily cut back water use by 25% in exchange for assurances they would not face deeper curtailments during the June-September growing season.

Drought, Northern Sacramento Valley

When
June 1, 12:00 AM PST to June 30, 11:59 PM PST
Where
Northern Sacramento Valley forecast zone
Reported by
Newspaper

Agriculture continued to be impacted with reduced planting and harvest of spring crops, bringing a significant loss of jobs. Tree mortality across the Valley increased, including even normally drought resistant oak trees. Golf courses faced pressure to use less water and were doing so, dry, brown appearance of the turf. Some golf courses shut down for lack of water. Many people reduced landscape watering at homes or removed grass lawns.

Drought, Southern Sacramento Valley

When
June 1, 12:00 AM PST to June 30, 11:59 PM PST
Where
Southern Sacramento Valley forecast zone
Reported by
Newspaper

Agriculture continued to be impacted with reduced planting and harvest of spring crops, bringing a significant loss of jobs. Tree mortality across the Valley increased, including even normally drought resistant oak trees. Golf courses faced pressure to use less water and were doing so, dry, brown appearance of the turf. Some golf courses shut down for lack of water. Many people reduced landscape watering at homes or removed grass lawns.

Drought, West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada

When
June 1, 12:00 AM PST to June 30, 11:59 PM PST
Where
West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada forecast zone
Reported by
Newspaper

Snow pack in the Northern Sierra was essentially non-existent by June. Mountain reservoirs were below normal levels as a result, reducing water supply for to larger reservoirs and reducing hydro-electrical power generating potential.

Drought, Shasta Lake/North Shasta County

When
June 1, 12:00 AM PST to June 30, 11:59 PM PST
Where
Shasta Lake/North Shasta County forecast zone
Reported by
Newspaper

Snow pack in the Cascasdes was essentially non-existent by June. Lake Shasta and other area reservoirs were well below normal levels as a result, reducing water supply and reducing hydro-electrical power generating potential.

Drought, Mountains Southwest Shasta County to Northern Lake County

When
June 1, 12:00 AM PST to June 30, 11:59 PM PST
Where
Mountains Southwest Shasta County to Northern Lake County forecast zone
Reported by
Newspaper

The drought continues to impact Lake County, with farmers clipping some wine grape vines, reducing irrigation needed this summer, while also reducing their harvest. Agriculture and related businesses have continued to lose jobs.

Drought, Clear Lake/Southern Lake County

When
June 1, 12:00 AM PST to June 30, 11:59 PM PST
Where
Clear Lake/Southern Lake County forecast zone
Reported by
Newspaper

The drought continues to impact Lake County, with farmers clipping some wine grape vines, reducing irrigation needed this summer, while also reducing their harvest. Agriculture and related businesses have continued to lose jobs.

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 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in California, June 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: 589217, 589218, 589219, 589220, 589221, 589222, 589223.