Wildfire in California, November 1 to 30, 2020

Name: Wildfire in California, November 1 to 30, 2020
Start: 2020-11-01T00:00
End: 2020-11-30T18:00
Location: California

November 1 to 30, 2020 · NWS STO · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

For the month of November, 2 out of the 4 wildfires, the August and North Complexes, from earlier this summer continued to burn across northern California. The LNU and SCU complexes were controlled or extinguished in the month of October.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

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 August Complex is the largest fire in California history, and is spread across the county warning areas of weather forecast offices Sacramento and Eureka. One fatality and injury occurred on August 27 at the August Complex due to a vehicular accident, many structures were destroyed or damaged. The August Complex finally becomes fully contained by November 15, 2020.

The North Complex, spanning portions of Plumas and Butte counties, was also started by lightning on August 17 at 8AM PST. Fire activity occurred for the month of August, but extreme fire growth happened during the month of September due to a strong offshore wind event. Per the US Forest Service there were 16 fatalities and 2,455 structures destroyed. Containment date was announced on December 4, 2020 along with a report of 15 responder injuries.

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 Oct 31, 1:02 PM PST, 10 hours 58 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 31, 1:02 PM PST, 10 hours 58 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sacramento CA
202 PM PDT Sat Oct 31 2020

.SYNOPSIS...
Dry weather with above normal high temperatures will persist
through next Thursday. Cooler with a threat of showers on Friday,
mainly over the mountains.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
High pressure over the western states will shift eastward the
next couple of days. A closed low off the Southern California
coast will lift towards the northeast Sunday and Monday and may
bring some high clouds to the region. Little change in
temperatures is expected through Monday.

A weak trough on Tuesday falls apart before it reaches the
northwest coast but may bring slightly cooler temperatures and
breezy winds over the ridgetops.

&&
.EXTENDED DISCUSSION (Wednesday THROUGH Saturday)...

High pressure returns to the region for Wednesday and Thursday to
keep temperatures relatively the same both days and similar to
earlier in the week. Friday and Saturday may be getting wetter and
a lot colder as a deep trough of low pressure moves through the
region. Currently there are timing differences within the models
of about 6 hours. Both the European and GFS are indicating some
rain within the valley. NBM may be under forecasting the amount
and extent of the precipitation. Have precipitation chances for
northern part of the valley and over the mountains for now but
suspect chances will be going up for all areas if this pattern
holds.

&&

.AVIATION...

VFR conditions next 24 hours except local MVFR visibilities
northern San Joaquin Valley. Winds generally less than 12 kts.

&&

.STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&

Event by event

2 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Wildfire, Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley

When: November 1, 12:00 AM PST to November 15, 6:00 PM PST
Where: Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

The North Complex, spanning portions of Plumas and Butte counties, was also started by lightning on August 17 at 8AM PST and continued through the month of September. Extreme fire growth happened just after Labor Day due to a strong offshore wind event. Per the US Forest Service there were 15 responder injuries, 16 fatalities, and 2,455 structures destroyed. As of January 20, the date when this is being prepared, updated information was released about the fire, including that it was declared contained on December 3, 2020.

Wildfire, Mountains Southwestern Shasta County to Western Colusa County

When: November 1, 12:00 AM PST to November 30, 6:00 PM PST
Where: Mountains Southwestern Shasta County to Western Colusa County forecast zone
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

The August Complex was started by lightning on August 16 and 17, initially over the Mendocino National Forest. Since then, the fire has grown extensively and currently spans two National Weather Service county warning areas, Sacramento and Eureka. Counties that have been affected are Tehama, Glenn, Colusa, Lake, Trinity, Mendocino, and Humboldt counties. The fire becomes fully contained on November 15 and ends up burning 1,032, 648 acres. It destroyed 54 structures and damaged 6 structures. 1 fire fighter fatality and an associated injury occurred via a vehicular accident while on the line in Eureka's forecast area.

What these are

Wildfire: A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 2020 Every state in 2020 This day in weather history Warnings in California, November 2020

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: 929484, 929485.