Despite the abundant rainfall and replenishing higher elevation snowpack received across the area in December, a long term precipitation deficit has resulted in continuing drought conditions across the central California Interior. Extreme drought conditions continued across most of the San Joaquin Valley and Kern County Deserts.
Every event with a place to put it; 31 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 HNX wrote it up.
Despite the abundant rainfall and replenishing higher elevation snowpack received across the area in December, a long term precipitation deficit has resulted in continuing drought conditions across the central California Interior. Extreme drought conditions continued across most of the San Joaquin Valley and Kern County Deserts. Drought conditions did improve across the Sierra Nevada to moderate to severe conditions due to the abundant rainfall in December.
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 Nov 30, 4:24 PM PST, 7 hours 36 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Hanford CA 424 PM PST Wed Nov 30 2022 .UPDATE: Updated air quality issues section. && .SYNOPSIS... The next storm system will be responsible for major winter storm impacts in the Sierra Nevada and widespread, beneficial rain in the San Joaquin Valley Thursday and Thursday night. There will be a brief break in precipitation chances Friday, prior to another storm system impacting Central California this weekend with mountain snow and valley rain. && .DISCUSSION... An Eastern Pacific trough of low pressure will approach the west coast of the United States tonight. This trough of low pressure will move eastward across Central California Thursday afternoon into Thursday evening. Two to three feet of snow is likely in the Sierra Nevada above 7,000 feet Thursday and Thursday night. One to two feet of snow is probable in the Sierra Nevada from 5,000 feet to 7,000 feet Thursday and Thursday night. Three to six inches of snow is likely in the Sierra Nevada from 4,000 feet to 5,000 feet Thursday and Thursday night. One to three inches of snow is possible in the Sierra Nevada foothills from 2,000 feet to 4,000 feet Thursday night. An inch or less of snow is possible along Interstate 5 over Tejon Pass and along Highway 58 over Tehachapi Pass late Thursday night into Friday morning. As far as rain is concerned, one quarter of an inch to one half of an inch of rain is possible in the southern portion of the San Joaquin Valley Thursday and Thursday night. One half of an inch to one inch of rain is conceivable in the remainder of the San Joaquin Valley Thursday and Thursday night. One to two inches of rain is possible in the Sierra Nevada foothills, below the snow line, Thursday and Thursday night. Precipitation rates will be highest Thursday evening. Short wave ridging is expected Friday ahead of the next storm system this weekend. This storm system is also formidable, but a little less wet than the storm system Thursday and Thursday night. Be that as it may, Winter Storm Watches will likely be required for the Sierra Nevada. && .AVIATION... VFR conditions will prevail this afternoon into this evening. IFR conditions, with mountain obscurations, will begin in the Sierra Nevada late tonight. MVFR conditions are likely in the San Joaquin Valley from late Thursday morning through Thursday evening. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... On Thursday December 1 2022, Fireplace/Wood Stove Burning Status is: No Burning Unless Registered in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, and Tulare Counties. Burning Discouraged in Merced County, and Kern (Greater Frazier Park Area) and Sequoia National Park and Forest. && .CERTAINTY... The level of certainty for days 1 and 2 is high. The level of certainty for days 3 through 7 is medium. Certainty levels include low...medium...and high. Please visit www.weather.gov/hnx/certainty.html for additional information and/or to provide feedback. && .HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Warning from 4 AM Thursday to 4 AM PST Friday for CAZ323-326>330. Winter Weather Advisory from 10 AM Thursday to 4 AM PST Friday for CAZ331. && Public/Aviation/Fire Weather...BS PIO/DSS........................DS weather.gov/hanford
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
31 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
The West Side Mountains north of Highway 198 were classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Los Banos and Dos Palos areas were classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Merced, Madera and Mendota areas were classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Planada, Legrand and Snelling areas were classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Coalinga and Avenal areas were classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The West Side of Fresno and Kings Counties were classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Caruthers, San Joaquin and Selma areas were classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Fresno and Clovis areas were classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The West Side Mountains south of Highway 198 were classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Buttonwillow and Lost Hills areas were classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Delano, Wasco and Shafter areas were classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Hanford, Corcoran and Lemoore areas were classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Visalia, Porterville and Reedley areas were classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Buena Vista area was classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Bakersfield area was classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Southeast San Joaquin Valley was classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The South End of the San Joaquin Valley was classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Mariposa and Madera County Foothills were classified a being in an severe drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Mariposa and Madera County Lower Sierra were classified as being in a severe drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Fresno and Tulare County Foothills were classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The South End Sierra Foothills were classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The South End of the Lower Sierra was classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The South End of the Upper Sierra was classified as being in a severe drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Kern River Valley was classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Piute and Walker Pass areas were classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Tehachapi area was classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Grapevine area was classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Frazier Mountain Communities were classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Indian Wells Valley was classified as being in a severe drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Mojave Desert Slopes were classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
The Mojave Desert was classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in California, December 2022
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: 1062998, 1062999, 1063000, 1063001, 1063002, 1063003, 1063004, 1063005, 1063006, 1063007, 1063008, 1063009, 1063010, 1063011, 1063012, 1063013, 1063014, 1063015, 1063016, 1063017, 1063018, 1063019, 1063020, 1063021, 1063022, 1063023, 1063024, 1063025, 1063026, 1063027, 1063028.