Drought — West Central San Joaquin Valley, California

2015-07-01 to 2015-07-31 · West Central San Joaquin Valley, California

Wider weather episode

The California drought continues in full force during the month of July, 2015. Temperatures continued to average above normal. July was a good month for precipitation as there were multiple monsoonal and tropical influxes of moisture into the area. However, this wasn't nearly enough to impact the drought situation. Rainfall totals for Fresno received 0.43 of an inch of rain, while Bakersfield received 0.04 inches.

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 general trend of below normal precipitation and above normal temperatures has continued this year.

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. Also, communities in Central California interior face state mandated reductions in municipal water use.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 596262. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.