![]() NASA MODIS/TERRA satellite image taken from NASA Worldview.Įxtreme precipitation events can sometimes be linked to our changing climate, such as, a recent extreme rainfall event in Louisiana. Heavy rains were focused on southern California during a multi-day atmospheric river event bringing record rainfall to areas around Los Angeles. Satellite image taken on January 22, 2017. (Keep your eyes peeled for a nationwide status report on drought later this week in our Beyond the Data blog.) Back then, 83.5% of the state was in drought with an astounding 21% of California experiencing exceptional drought. While this is still substantial, it is a far cry from where the state started its water year at the end of September. Drought Monitor issued on January 24, 51% of California is still experiencing drought conditions but no location is under the worst drought category, D4-Exceptional Drought. This represents a huge change from just a few years ago.Īs for the drought itself, according to the latest U.S. The heavy rains have left the two largest reservoirs in the state– Lake Shasta and Lake Oroville – at 116% and 124% of average respectively as of January 30. The state of the many reservoirs across the state is vital for drought relief. ![]() NOAA image, based on data provided by PRISM. Multiple atmospheric river events during January led to well above average precipitation across widespread areas. Percent of normal precipitation totals through January 26, 2017, compared to normal January precipitation. The previous record was a measly 209 inches. Mammoth Mountain has set a January record for snowfall as totals have reached 246 inches from the start of the month to January 24. Resorts in the Sierra Nevadas had to close temporarily to allow workers to dig out and make sure conditions were safe for skiers. ![]() ![]() The snowpack in the Sierra Nevada Mountains increased from 6.5 inches on January 1 to 20.1 inches by January 12! If all of the snow was melted down into liquid – known as the snow water content – the amounts in northern California would already be over 90% of the average yearly peak, which usually occurs in April.įor ski resorts, it might be too much snow. From January 4-11, six to twelve feet of snow fell across the Sierra Nevada Mountains. And much of that precipitation has fallen as snow. Through January 22, January has been the third wettest on record. Precipitation this year is even outpacing the wettest year on record (1982-83) for the region. In the North Sierra Nevada Mountains, the average accumulation at 8 weather stations so far this water year is 53.2 inches, already higher than the seasonal average from 1922-1998. Precipitation across the higher elevations in California is on a record pace for the 2016-2017 water year. What about in the higher elevations? Enough snow for skiers? Sacramento, meanwhile, is experiencing its fourth wettest January in history with wet season rainfall totaling 192% of normal. From January 7-9, the remote, elevated, notoriously rainy observation site in Venado, California, received over a foot of rain. Not surprisingly, precipitation totals from recent atmospheric rivers have been astounding.ĭuring the first 11 days of the month, precipitation totals statewide were around 25% of the average annual rainfall for the entire state of California. The West Coast relies on these events for around half of their precipitation during the winter wet season. Atmospheric rivers are narrow streams of moisture flowing directly from the humid tropics. The heavy rain and higher elevation snow is the result of multiple atmospheric river events along the West Coast. NASA MODIS/TERRA satellite image taken from NASA Worldview. Heavy rains and higher elevation snow battered California during a multi-day atmospheric river event. Satellite image taken on January 8, 2017.
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