Interior northern California is still experiencing widespread drought. Impacts from the relatively dry start to the calendar year have started to become evident across interior Northern California.
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.
Interior northern California is still experiencing widespread drought. Impacts from the relatively dry start to the calendar year have started to become evident across interior Northern California. Much of the region has increased the severity of the drought conditions. Many local and regional, as well as state-wide restrictions continue with plans for increased restrictions forthcoming. Agricultural surface water deliveries are already scheduled to be significantly reduced. The state-wide drought declaration by governor Gavin Newsom also continues. Mandatory water restrictions are in place on outdoor water use for all Californians with possible fines to violators. As of the month of May, the Public Affairs Officer at Bureau of Reclamation reported that they anticipate that in the Sacramento Valley alone, over 350,000 acres of farmland will be fallowed. It was reported that agriculture and most of the state’s energy development are both water-intensive industries and less water will mean communities across California are going to suffer this year during the drought, it’s just a question of how much more they suffer.
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 Apr 30, 10:05 PM PST, 1 hour 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sacramento CA 1105 PM PDT Sat Apr 30 2022 .SYNOPSIS... Mainly dry weather through the middle of next week, except a threat of showers over the Shasta County mountains Monday. Significant warming by midweek with periods of gusty wind. Unsettled weather possible towards the end of the week mainly for the northern mountains. && .DISCUSSION... The "Final" Evening Update: As discussed last evening the expected onshore flow increased significantly late afternoon as the 5H low and trof off the Pac NW coast moved onshore. Onshore gradients peaked out at about 5 mbs around 23z and the Delta Breeze began to cool the Delta influenced areas beginning around 00z. This was too late to effect the maxes in the Valley and foothills today as most areas were warmer while there was about 2 to 6 degrees of cooling in Solano Co and the higher mountain areas. This evening the Valley had cooled by as much as 3 to 10 def as of 03z, while only 1 or 2 in the Nrn Sac Vly farther from the Delta influence. This 5H low and trof will move into NV tonite/early Sun with possibly some light showers over the high Sierra around or north of the Tahoe latitude. Otherwise, pattern recognition indicates this track is favorable for the development of the Nly Barrier Jet on the West side of the Vly. The NAM 925 mbs winds indicate a 30+ kt Nly wind max will work its way down the W side of the Vly tonite and early Sun morning. Max temps warm a little again on Sun as high pressure rebuilds over Norcal as the upper low and trof move Ewd into UT. But look for another transition to cooler temps on Mon as another trof approaches/moves into the Pac NW on Mon. Energy digging across NV Mon nite/Tue morning will again initiate a Nly Barrier Jet with the NAM forecasting a 36 kt speed max on the W side of the Valley/Napa Co area. Temps recover again on Tue as 5H heights rebuild and the air mass warms. And now, a few moments after the date/time issuance stamp on this AFD, this old forecaster will "...advect into oblivion." What began as a hobby, turned into a challenging and rewarding career that spanned all or part of 6 decades. And it went by with the snap of the fingers. It was an honor and priviledge to serve with the nation's best meteorologists and researchers. Truly a blessing to have been given the opportunity to meet or correspond with a few of them whose names are recognized as world renowned experts (giants) in the field of meteorology. The staff at WFO Sacramento are dedicated, intelligent and hard- working professionals who undoubtedly will continue to fulfill the mission of the NWS. Thank You All Very Much. JHM .Previous Discussion... Shortwave moving through the region may produce a few isolated showers over the Shasta County mountains this afternoon, otherwise expect dry weather. The shortwave will move into the Great Basin on Sunday with a ridge of high pressure building over California. Northerly flow will warm temperatures by several degrees over todays highs. On Monday a stronger shortwave will move through early in the day that will bring cooler air to the region and a chance of showers early to the Shasta County mountains. Temperatures will cool 5 to 10 degrees from Sunday's highs. Winds will shift during the day starting southerly but switching to a northerly direction late in the morning through the afternoon. A ridge of high pressure builds on Tuesday with continued northerly flow. Temperatures will warm into the low to mid 80s for the valley. && .EXTENDED DISCUSSION (Wednesday THROUGH Saturday)... Model agreement continues on an upper-level ridge over the Western US by Wednesday. With this ridge, expect warmer temperatures, with Wednesday Valley highs in the low 90s. The ridge is forecast to move to the east for the second part of the work week. A trough is expected to approach from the Pacific Northwest but there is quite a bit of uncertainty in the clusters on the timing and depth of said trough. Depending on its track, there could be some precipitation chances, especially for far Northern California for the end of the extended period. Regardless, expect a slight cooling trend Thursday into next weekend. ACW && .AVIATION... VFR conditions are forecast to prevail throughout interior northern California over the next 24 hours. Surface windgusts 15 to 20 kt in the Valley thru tomorrow afternoon. Localized gusts up to 30 kt possible around the Delta and mountain ridgetops. && .STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. &&
12 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept all of Zone 13 in extreme drought (D3). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 60% of average. Drought impacts include but are not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems.
For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept approximately the western half of Zone 14 in extreme drought (D3) with the remainder of the zone in severe drought (D2). | The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 60-85% of average. Drought impacts include but are not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems.
For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept all of Zone 15 in extreme drought (D3). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 50-60% of average. Water storage levels at Lake Shasta were reported at 40% of its total capacity, the lowest ever recorded at the beginning of May since record-keeping began in 1977. Drought impacts include but are not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems. Drought impacts to the region include; little to no allocation of water from irrigation districts to agriculture, reduced rangeland forage without alternative forage, hay prices at record levels, cattle being sold, including calves that are typically sold in late Fall, earlier onset of irrigation, increased fire danger, as well as increasing reports of dry wells. The local economy continues to be significantly impacted.
For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded all of Zone 16 to extreme drought (D3). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 50-75% of average. Water storage at Lake Oroville was recorded at 55% of its capacity which is only around 70% of average for the month of May. Drought impacts include but are not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems. Drought impacts to the region include; little to no allocation of water from irrigation districts to agriculture, reduced rangeland forage without alternative forage, hay prices at record levels, cattle being sold, including calves that are typically sold in late Fall, earlier onset of irrigation, increased fire danger, as well as increasing reports of dry wells. The local economy continues to be significantly impacted.
For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded the majority of Zone 17 to extreme drought (D3). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 70-90% of average. Drought impacts include but are not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems. Some of the impacts the region saw included; reduced forage, decreased stock weights, livestock stress, selling of livestock, decrease in water allocation, increased reports of dry wells including domestic wells, hauling of water, and plans to fallow large areas of cropland.
For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded the eastern portion of Zone 18 to extreme drought (D3) with the remainder of the zone in severe drought (D2). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 70-85% of average. The temporary rock wall constructed on the false river in the Delta that was partially taken down in January 2022 to allow fish and boats through began reconstruction to prevent more salt water intrusion. Some of the impacts the region saw included; reduced forage, decreased stock weights, livestock stress, selling of livestock, decrease in water allocation, earlier onset of irrigation, increased reports of dry wells including domestic wells, hauling of water, and plans to fallow large areas of cropland.
For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded the majority of Zone 19 to extreme drought (D3) with the far western border of the zone remaining in severe drought (D2). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 60-85% of average. Drought impacts include but are not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems.
For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor made little change to the zone with the majority of Zone 63 in extreme drought (D3) with the far western border of the zone remaining in severe drought (D2). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 45-65% of average. Drought impacts to the region include; little to no allocation of water from irrigation districts to agriculture, reduced rangeland forage without alternative forage, hay prices at record levels, cattle being sold, including calves that are typically sold in late Fall, earlier onset of irrigation, increased fire danger, as well as increasing reports of dry wells. The local economy continues to be impacted.
For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor made little change to the zone with the the northern and western portions of Zone 66 in extreme drought (D3) and kept the remainder of the zone in severe drought (D2). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 60-80% of average. Drought impacts to the region include; little to no allocation of water from irrigation districts to agriculture, reduced rangeland forage without alternative forage, hay prices at record levels, cattle being sold, including calves that are typically sold in late Fall, as well as increasing reports of dry wells. The local economy continues to be impacted.
For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded the southern portion of Zone 67 in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties to exceptional drought (D4), kept severe drought (D2) in the far northeastern portion of the zone as well as the remainder of the zone in extreme drought (D3). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 60-90% of average. Drought impacts include but are not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems.
For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor made little change to Zone 68 with the far northwestern portion of the zone in extreme drought (D3) and the remainder of the zone in severe drought (D2). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 60-90% of average. Drought impacts include but are not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems.
For the month of May, the U.S. Drought Monitor degraded the southern portion of Zone 69 in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties to exceptional drought (D4), with a large region in the southwestern portion of the zone in extreme drought (D3) and the remainder of the zone in severe drought (D2). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below average precipitation for the water year at around 70-95% of average. Drought impacts include but are not limited too: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems.
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, May 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: 1026347, 1026348, 1026349, 1026350, 1026351, 1026357, 1026362, 1026364, 1026365, 1026366, 1026367, 1026368.