Drought in California, November 1 to 30, 2022

Name: Drought in California, November 1 to 30, 2022
Start: 2022-11-01T00:00
End: 2022-11-30T23:59
Location: California

November 1 to 30, 2022 · NWS STO · 10 events in 10 counties and zones

Interior northern California is still experiencing widespread drought. For the month of November, there were no changes made to drought severity levels in the region.

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 10

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.

Interior northern California is still experiencing widespread drought. For the month of November, there were no changes made to drought severity levels in the region. Much of the region remains in severe to extreme drought with portions of the northern San Joaquin as high as exceptional drought. Many local and regional, as well as state-wide restrictions continue. Agricultural surface water deliveries continue to be significantly reduced. The state-wide drought declaration by Governor Gavin Newsom continues. Mandatory water restrictions are in place on outdoor water use for all Californians with possible fines to violators. Agriculture and most of the state’s energy development are water-intensive industries and have less water for those purposes.

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, 1:20 PM PST, 10 hours 40 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 31, 1:20 PM PST, 10 hours 40 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Sacramento CA
220 PM PDT Mon Oct 31 2022

.SYNOPSIS...
A pattern change this week will bring a significant cooling
trend, breezy winds, and widespread rain and mountain snow mainly
Tuesday and Wednesday. Cold morning lows, morning frost, and
breezy offshore winds Thursday. Unsettled weather possible again
this weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Mixed bag of weather coming up this week including breezy winds,
rain, mountain snow, isolated thunderstorms, possible convective
snow showers, frost, and cold temperatures.

Not much change to the forecast for tomorrow and Wednesday as a
storm impacts the area beginning late tonight in the northwest
portion of California, eventually overspreading the area by Tuesday
morning and afternoon. As the front moves through, a moderate band
of precipitation is expected bringing rain to the Valley and snow to
mountain areas. Snow levels start at pass levels early Tuesday, but
drop during the day, generally from about 4.5-5.5 kft by the
evening, and then continue to fall into Wednesday. Hazardous
mountain travel is expected by Tuesday afternoon and a Winter Storm
Warning has been issued for the Sierra up into Lassen Park and
western Plumas County. Strong winds are forecast over mountain
passes which will quickly reduce visibility as snow falls and may
cause periods of whiteout conditions. Precipitation will become
much more showery into the evening, with scattered showers
expected to continue into Wednesday. While instability is marginal
behind this initial band on Tuesday, some hi-res guidance is
picking up on chances for a few isolated storms. The main area for
storms looks to be in the eastern Sacramento Valley into the
foothills generally from the northern MotherLode region to
Oroville, and about as west as Yuba City.

For Wednesday, the lingering precipitation will mainly be in the
mountains, foothills, and far northern Sacramento Valley. There does
look to be some instability this day so while precipitation will be
showery, some convective snow showers are not out of the question.
If these form, especially over mountain roadways, expect quickly
changing conditions and slippery roads as an inch or two of snow
may fall in a short period of time. The Warning continues this
day.

This system exits the area Wednesday night into Thursday bringing
additional weather impacts as it departs and skies begin to
clear. Very cold morning lows are expected Thursday morning in the
Valley with lows ranging from the low to upper 30s. Mountain
temperatures that morning will be in the teens, possibly down to
the single digits in the higher elevations. Areas of frost are
possible in the Valley this morning as well. Breezy offshore winds
will be seen in the afternoon, although do not look concerning at
this time due to the rain expected.

&&

.EXTENDED DISCUSSION (Friday THROUGH Monday)...
Brief period of ridging on Friday will bring some slightly warmer
temperatures and less wind than those of Thursday. Ensembles
continue to indicate the ridge flattening through the weekend as a
weather system moves in from the north. Deterministic guidance
brings precipitation chances back to the area this weekend,
although ensemble guidance still suggests much uncertainty in this
solution. Temperatures for the weekend continue to be around 5-10
degrees cooler than seasonable values.

&&

.AVIATION...
VFR conditions are expected the through tonight. Increasing
clouds, will create periods of IFR/MVFR conditions with OVC aoa
1,000-2,000 feet Tuesday morning. Breezy southerly wind gusts
generally below 20-25 kts tomorrow mainly just ahead of rain
showers. Showers are expected to impact KRDD and KRBl between
14-15Z Tuesday, arriving at the Sacramento terminals between
17-18Z, and KSCK and KMOD between 18-19Z. Showers will remain
through the afternoon. Winds will shift northerly behind the
associated cold front, with gusts around 15 knots.

&&

.STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Storm Warning from 11 AM Tuesday to 7 PM PST Wednesday
for West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada-Western Plumas
County/Lassen Park.

&&

Event by event

10 drought. Local standard time, as filed.

Drought, Burney Basin/Eastern Shasta County

When: November 1, 12:00 AM PST to November 30, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Burney Basin/Eastern Shasta County forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of November, 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. Drought impacts include but are not limited to: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems.

Drought, Shasta Lake/North Shasta County

When: November 1, 12:00 AM PST to November 30, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Shasta Lake/North Shasta County forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of November, 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. Drought impacts include but are not limited to: agriculture, water supplies, recreation, and ecosystems.

Drought, Northern Sacramento Valley

When: November 1, 12:00 AM PST to November 30, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Northern Sacramento Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of November, 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. 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, increased fire danger, as well as increasing reports of dry wells. The local economy continues to be significantly impacted.

Drought, Central Sacramento Valley

When: November 1, 12:00 AM PST to November 30, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Central Sacramento Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of November, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept all of Zone 16 in extreme drought (D3). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below-average precipitation for the water year. 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, increased fire danger, as well as increasing reports of dry wells. The local economy continues to be significantly impacted.

Drought, Southern Sacramento Valley

When: November 1, 12:00 AM PST to November 30, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Southern Sacramento Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of November, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept all of Zone 17 in extreme drought (D3). The zone saw drought impacts continue due to the below-average precipitation for the water year. 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, increased fire danger, as well as increasing reports of dry wells. The local economy continues to be significantly impacted.

Drought, Carquinez Strait and Delta

When: November 1, 12:00 AM PST to November 30, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Carquinez Strait and Delta forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of November, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept the eastern portion of Zone 18 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. 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 fallowed areas of cropland.

Drought, Northern San Joaquin Valley

When: November 1, 12:00 AM PST to November 30, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Northern San Joaquin Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of November, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept the eastern portion of Zone 19 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. 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 fallowed areas of cropland.

Drought, Mountains Southwestern Shasta County to Western Colusa County

When: November 1, 12:00 AM PST to November 30, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Mountains Southwestern Shasta County to Western Colusa County forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of November, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept 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. 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, increased fire danger, as well as increasing reports of dry wells. The local economy continues to be impacted.

Drought, Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley

When: November 1, 12:00 AM PST to November 30, 11:59 PM PST
Where: Northeast Foothills/Sacramento Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of November, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept the northern and western portions of Zone 66 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. 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.

Drought, West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada

When: November 1, 12:00 AM PST to November 30, 11:59 PM PST
Where: West Slope Northern Sierra Nevada forecast zone
Reported by: Drought Monitor

For the month of November, the U.S. Drought Monitor kept the northern and western portions of Zone 69 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. 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.

What these are

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.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history Warnings in California, November 2022

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: 1062921, 1062922, 1062923, 1062925, 1062926, 1062927, 1062928, 1062929, 1062930, 1062931.