Drought — South End of the Lower Sierra, California

2022-12-01 to 2022-12-31 · South End of the Lower Sierra, California

Event narrative

The South End of the Lower Sierra was classified as being in an extreme drought due to a long term precipitation deficit.

Wider weather episode

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.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1063019. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.