Northern California typically experiences a wet season, October through May, and a dry season May through September. Last year's water year, October 2019 through September 2020, was one of the driest on records.
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.
The episode as NWS STO wrote it up.
Northern California typically experiences a wet season, October through May, and a dry season May through September. Last year's water year, October 2019 through September 2020, was one of the driest on records. This likely contributed to the U.S. Drought Monitor's decision to place portions of interior northern California into extreme drought on September 29, 2020. Portions of Shasta, Tehama, Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Yolo, Solano, Yuba, Nevada, and Sacramento counties remain placed extreme drought. The rest of interior northern California was placed into severe drought (D2) on December 8; however, the state of California has not announced that these locations are in drought.
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 Feb 28, 2:07 PM PST, 9 hours 53 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sacramento CA 207 PM PST Sun Feb 28 2021 .SYNOPSIS... Breezy north to east winds will continue to ease today. Dry and mild weather continues through Thursday. Shower chances may return late in the work week. && .DISCUSSION... The forecast remains on track this afternoon as the eastern Pacific high builds. Mountain and foothill winds have decreased for the most part, while breezy Valley winds have returned. The strongest signals are up in the northern Sacramento Valley and along the west side of the Valley with peak gusts generally between 15 and 25 mph as of 1245pm. Guidance shows that these winds will be tapering off this afternoon and into the early evening hours. Tonight, high pressure will continue to hold which will allow for mostly clear skies. This will promote radiational cooling with morning lows several degrees below normal tomorrow. With high pressure dominating the forecast for the short-term, look for mild and dry weather to return to NorCal. Afternoon high temperatures will be about 5 to 10 degrees above normal for this time of year. Ensemble guidance has continued to trend towards a closed low developing off the West Coast early this week. The low is forecast to move south over the ocean and off the Southern California coast which will leave Northern California dry. && .EXTENDED DISCUSSION (Thursday THROUGH Sunday)... Thursday will be mild. After that, ensemble guidance has come into decent agreement that an area of low pressure is forecast to bring chances for unsettled weather to Northern California for the weekend. However, There is still a large amount of uncertainty in terms of timing and strength as depicted in cluster analysis. Guidance also indicates the possibility of this generally unsettled synoptic pattern to continue into the following week. && .AVIATION... VFR conditions next 24 hrs. Winds generally less than 15kts. && .STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
5 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
For the month of March, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept the majority of zone 13, which covers Shasta County, in extreme drought (D3). The California Department of Water Resources decreased the water allocation to 5% on March 26th for the State Water Project.
For the month of March, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept all of zone 15, portions of Shasta and Tehama counties, into extreme drought (D3).They also noted on this month's call the following impacts for the Sacramento Valley: low groundwater levels, dry stock pond, and poor range-land and pasture conditions. Some ranchers have even stated they've started selling livestock. Additionally, the California Department of Water Resources decreased the water allocation to 5% on March 26th for the State Water Project.
For the month of March, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept most of Glenn and Colusa, and Sutter counties along with the western portions of Butte and Yuba counties in extreme drought (D3). They also noted on this month's call the following impacts for the Sacramento Valley: low groundwater levels, dry stock pond, and poor range-land and pasture conditions. Some ranchers have even stated they've started selling livestock. Additionally, the California Department of Water Resources decreased the water allocation to 5% on March 26th for the State Water Project.
For the month of March, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept all of Yolo County, and portions of Sacramento, Sutter, Solano counties in extreme drought (D3). They also noted on this month's call the following impacts for the Sacramento Valley: low groundwater levels, dry stock pond, and poor range-land and pasture conditions. Some ranchers have even stated they've started selling livestock. Additionally, the California Department of Water Resources decreased the water allocation to 5% on March 26th for the State Water Project.
For the month of March, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept all of zone 63, which covers western Tehama, Glenn, and Colusa counties in extreme drought (D3). They also noted on this month's call the following impacts for the Sacramento Valley: low groundwater levels, dry stock pond, and poor range-land and pasture conditions. Some ranchers have even stated they've started selling livestock. Additionally, the California Department of Water Resources decreased the water allocation to 5% on March 26th for the State Water Project.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in California, March 2021
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: 951143, 951144, 951145, 951146, 951147.