California, 2021Drought in California, December 1 to 31, 2021
December 1 to 31, 2021 · NWS STO · 12 events in 12 counties and zones
Several large storms so far this water season 2021-2022, brought widespread rainfall and snow to the region easing the drought conditions for much of California. However, given the large precipitation deficits the region has faced with the ongoing drought, interior northern California is still experiencing widespread severe to exceptional drought as of the end of December.
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 12
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.
Several large storms so far this water season 2021-2022, brought widespread rainfall and snow to the region easing the drought conditions for much of California. However, given the large precipitation deficits the region has faced with the ongoing drought, interior northern California is still experiencing widespread severe to exceptional drought as of the end of December. Many restrictions continue throughout the region as well as the state-wide drought declaration by governor Gavin Newsom.
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 Nov 30, 2:19 PM PST, 9 hours 41 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Nov 30, 2:19 PM PST, 9 hours 41 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sacramento CA
219 PM PST Tue Nov 30 2021
.SYNOPSIS...
Dry weather continues. Locally breezy north to east winds today
through early Wednesday, mainly in the foothills and mountains. Cool
mornings with local fog in the Valley and mild afternoons
expected over the next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
A weather system moving through the Great Plains region today has
shifted the high pressure axis west, lessing upper heights over
Northern California and causing surface pressure gradients to
begin tightening. Current SFO-RNO surface gradient is around -8
mb. Locally breezy north to east winds are forecast today through
tomorrow morning, mainly for the foothills and mountains. A few
breezy gusts are being observed in wind prone areas this
afternoon, but winds should pick up more this evening and last
through early tomorrow for the foothills and mountains. Expect
gusts up to 20-30 mph, locally up to 40+ mph near wind prone gaps,
canyons, and ridgetops. In the Valley, winds won't be as gusty as
the pressure gradient isn't very tight, mainly up to 15 mph,
locally up to 20 mph.
Temperatures today and tomorrow will be nearly 20 degrees above
normal in the mountains, foothills, and northern Sacramento Valley
due to the north to east winds. The northern Valley could see
temperatures in the mid to upper 70s with upper 50s to 70s across
the mountains and foothills.
High pressure builds back over California tomorrow with flow
becoming more zonal for the end of the week. Temperatures will
lower a few degrees each day in the hotspot regions mentioned
before, though they will still remain around 5 to 15 degrees above
normal across the forecast area. Expect Valley and foothill
temperatures in the mid 60s to low 70s and 50s to 60s in the
mountains. Mostly clear skies will lead to chilly nights with the
potential for Valley fog formation in the evenings and early
mornings each day. -HEC
&&
.EXTENDED DISCUSSION (Saturday THROUGH Tuesday)...
Ensemble guidance indicates high pressure will continue for the
weekend across interior Northern California. Dry conditions and
above normal temperatures will prevail with cool nights and patchy
Valley fog. Ensembles continue to indicate that a weather system
will move southeast from the Pacific NW into northern California
sometime Monday into Tuesday, bringing the chance of precipitation
to portions of the area. At this point, it seems like
precipitation would be fairly light and mainly limited to the
mountains and foothills, but confidence remains low in storm
track, timing, and other specific details this far out. -HEC
&&
.AVIATION...
VFR conditions next 24 hours, except for local MVFR/IFR/LIFR
conditions due to BR/FG in portions of the southern Sacramento and
northern San Joaquin valleys after 06Z-08Z Wednesday. Local N-E
surface wind gusts 25-35 kts possible in portions of
foothills/mountains through 18Z Wednesday.
&&
.STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.
&&
Drought, Shasta Lake/North Shasta County
- When
- December 1, 12:00 AM PST to December 31, 11:59 PM PST
- Where
- Shasta Lake/North Shasta County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
For the month of December, the U.S. Drought Monitor improved a large portion of the eastern section of Zone 13 to severe drought with the rest of the zone remaining in extreme drought (D3). The zone continued to see much of the same impacts already affecting the region, however, there are signs of improvement especially with active weather in the month of December. Drought conditions may continue to improve as we continue into the rainy season that started October 1st.
Drought, Burney Basin/Eastern Shasta County
- When
- December 1, 12:00 AM PST to December 31, 11:59 PM PST
- Where
- Burney Basin/Eastern Shasta County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
For the month of December, the U.S. Drought Monitor greatly improved most of Zone 14 with only the far northern border of the zone remaining in extreme drought (D3). The majority of the zone was improved to severe drought (D2). The zone continued to see some of the same impacts already affecting the region, however, there are signs of improvement especially with active weather in the month of December. Drought conditions may continue to improve as we continue into the rainy season that started October 1st.
Drought, Northern Sacramento Valley
- When
- December 1, 12:00 AM PST to December 31, 11:59 PM PST
- Where
- Northern Sacramento Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
For the month of December, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept all of Zone 15 in extreme drought (D3). The zone continued to see some of the same impacts already affecting the region, however, there are signs of improvement especially with active weather in the month of December. Drought conditions may continue to improve as we continue into the rainy season that started October 1st.
Drought, Central Sacramento Valley
- When
- December 1, 12:00 AM PST to December 31, 11:59 PM PST
- Where
- Central Sacramento Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
For the month of December, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept all of Zone 16 in extreme drought (D3). The zone continued to see some of the same impacts already affecting the region, however, there are signs of improvement especially with active weather in the month of December. Drought conditions may continue to improve as we continue into the rainy season that started October 1st.
Drought, Southern Sacramento Valley
- When
- December 1, 12:00 AM PST to December 31, 11:59 PM PST
- Where
- Southern Sacramento Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
For the month of December, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept most of Zone 17 in extreme drought (D3) and improved the western and eastern boundaries of the zone to severe drought (D2). The zone continued to see some of the same impacts already affecting the region, however, there are signs of improvement especially with active weather in the month of December. Drought conditions may continue to improve as we continue into the rainy season that started October 1st.
Drought, Carquinez Strait and Delta
- When
- December 1, 12:00 AM PST to December 31, 11:59 PM PST
- Where
- Carquinez Strait and Delta forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
For the month of December, the U.S. Drought Monitor greatly improved the drought conditions in Zone 18. The western portion of the zone was improved to severe drought (D2) while the remainder of the zone to extreme drought (D3) with no exceptional drought (D4) remaining. The zone continued to see some of the same impacts already affecting the region, however, there are signs of improvement especially with active weather in the month of December. Drought conditions may continue to improve as we continue into the rainy season that started October 1st.
Drought, Northern San Joaquin Valley
- When
- December 1, 12:00 AM PST to December 31, 11:59 PM PST
- Where
- Northern San Joaquin Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
For the month of December, the U.S. Drought Monitor greatly improved the drought conditions in Zone 19. The entire zone was taken out of exceptional drought (D4) and the majority was improved to extreme drought (D3) with the far southwestern and far northwestern portion of the zone improved to severe drought (D2). The zone continued to see some of the same impacts already affecting the region, however, there are signs of improvement especially with active weather in the month of December. Drought conditions may continue to improve as we continue into the rainy season that started October 1st.
Drought, Mountains Southwestern Shasta County to Western Colusa County
- When
- December 1, 12:00 AM PST to December 31, 11:59 PM PST
- Where
- Mountains Southwestern Shasta County to Western Colusa County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
For the month of December, the U.S. Drought Monitor improved the drought conditions on the western half of Zone 63 to severe drought (D2) with the remainder of the zone staying in extreme drought (D3). The zone continued to see some of the same impacts already affecting the region, however, there are signs of improvement especially with active weather in the month of December. Drought conditions may continue to improve as we continue into the rainy season that started October 1st.
Drought, Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley
- When
- December 1, 12:00 AM PST to December 31, 11:59 PM PST
- Where
- Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
For the month of December, the U.S. Drought Monitor improved the majority of Zone 66 to severe drought (D20 with only the far northwestern portion of the zone on the border of Shasta and Tehama counties remaining in extreme drought (D3). The zone continued to see some of the same impacts already affecting the region, however, there are signs of improvement especially with active weather in the month of December. Drought conditions may continue to improve as we continue into the rainy season that started October 1st.
Drought, Motherlode/Camptonville to Groveland
- When
- December 1, 12:00 AM PST to December 31, 11:59 PM PST
- Where
- Motherlode/Camptonville to Groveland forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
For the month of December, the U.S. Drought Monitor improved the majority of Zone 67 to severe drought (D2) with only the far southwestern portion of the zone which covers Calaveras County and Tuolumne County remaining in extreme drought (D3). The zone continued to see some of the same impacts already affecting the region, however, there are signs of improvement especially with active weather in the month of December. Drought conditions may continue to improve as we continue into the rainy season that started October 1st.
Drought, Mt Shasta/Western Plumas County
- When
- December 1, 12:00 AM PST to December 31, 11:59 PM PST
- Where
- Mt Shasta/Western Plumas County forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
For the month of December, the U.S. Drought Monitor improved all of Zone 68 to severe drought (D2). The zone continued to see some of the same impacts already affecting the region, however, there are signs of improvement especially with active weather in the month of December. Drought conditions may continue to improve as we continue into the rainy season that started October 1st.
Drought, West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada
- When
- December 1, 12:00 AM PST to December 31, 11:59 PM PST
- Where
- West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada forecast zone
- Reported by
- Drought Monitor
For the month of December, the U.S. Drought Monitor improved all of Zone 69 to severe drought (D2). The zone continued to see some of the same impacts already affecting the region, however, there are signs of improvement especially with active weather in the month of December. Drought conditions may continue to improve as we continue into the rainy season that started October 1st.
- 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.
- Wildfire and Drought in North Carolina, December 1 to 31, 2021$364,000 · 4 events
- Drought in New Mexico, December 1 to 31, 202140 events
- Drought in California, December 1 to 31, 202140 events
- Drought in North Dakota, December 1 to 31, 202121 events
- Drought in Texas, December 1 to 31, 202117 events
- Drought in Montana, December 1 to 31, 202116 events
- Drought in Colorado, December 1 to 31, 202116 events
- Drought in Oklahoma, December 1 to 31, 202115 events
- High Wind in Montana, December 1, 202189 kt wind · 15 events
- Drought in Hawaii, December 1 to 14, 202114 events
- Drought in Oklahoma, December 1 to 31, 202113 events
- Drought in Minnesota, December 1 to 31, 202111 events
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: 994093, 994096, 994098, 994102, 994106, 994107, 994109, 994110, 994112, 994113, 995423, 995424.