Drought — Tulare Cty Foothills, California

2015-03-01 to 2015-03-31 · Tulare Cty Foothills, California

Wider weather episode

The California drought continued in full force during the month of March, 2015. The month was exceptionally warm and much drier than normal. In fact, it was the warmest March ever in Fresno and the 3rd warmest on record in Bakersfield. March, 2015 was the 6th driest March on record in Fresno, tied with March, 1923 with a measly precipitation total of only six hundredths of an inch. The month's unseasonably warm weather tied or established new records for high minimum and maximum temperatures on several occasions in the San Joaquin Valley. In fact, temperatures averaged above normal every single day of the month except the 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

The U.S. Drought Monitor continued to report exceptional drought conditions across the entire Central California region. This extent of exceptional drought is extremely unusual for California. The 2013-2014 water year (July 1 - June 30) concluded with Fresno setting its second driest on record (4.81 inches) and Bakersfield setting its third driest (2.41 inches). For the calendar year, 2014 was the warmest year on record for Fresno and Bakersfield. The trend of below normal precipitation and above normal temperatures has continued through the first few months of 2015.

There continues to be significant media coverage on the on-going drought conditions. These reports include discussion of significant re-allocation of water resources from the east to west side of the San Joaquin Valley, farmers forgoing planting of some crops, a decrease in the snow-related tourism activity in the Southern Sierra Nevada, reduction in air quality due to persistent stagnant air, loss or reduction of ground water, wells drying up in several communities leaving them with no water, and an unprecedented increase in fire danger across the Southern Sierra Nevada and Tehachapi Mountains.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 562214. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.