![]() Above-normal potential wraps southward from there toward the Tehachapi Mountains through the coastal ranges and the central and southern Sierra Nevada. The National Interagency Fire Center’s outlook for July calls for above-normal potential for wildfire north of the Interstate 80 corridor. This missing year of rainfall contributes to the drought and a tinder-dry environment that is much more prone to wildfire. Interim 2006-2020 climate data is shockingly dry, with normal rainfall in Los Angeles. Santa Rosa ended up with only 55% of its three-year normal. Analysis of 1991-2020 data provided the new normal of 14.25 inches. They ended up with 43% and 45% of their three-year normals, respectively, because they were north of the December atmospheric river and too far south for storms that wet down the far northwestern corner of the state, according to Null. Places such as Ukiah and Mount Shasta City, for example, weren’t as lucky. San Francisco, for example, ended the 2021-2022 rainfall season with 82% of normal, but for the three-season period ending June 30, it had only 56% of normal. But even within that target area, precipitation numbers came up short. According to Null, a strong atmospheric river in December doused the state from about Monterey to just north of the Golden Gate, and from about Yosemite to Oroville. These watersheds include the Sacramento, Feather, Yuba and American rivers, which provide a large portion of the state’s water supply.ĭecember was unusually wet and snowy in the state, but then the spigots were shut off for the next couple of months, which are usually the wettest. The index is the average of eight precipitation-measuring sites that provide a representative sample of the northern Sierra’s major watersheds. What he called the “bellwether” stood at 61% of normal for 2019 through 2022, less than two-thirds of what would be expected. If he could pick a single number to characterize the state’s water situation, Null said, it would be the Northern Sierra 8-Station Index. Rainwater and snowmelt are captured there in huge reservoirs such as Shasta Lake and Lake Oroville. Most of California’s significant precipitation occurs in the north. But precipitation in the northern part of the state is much more consequential for Southern California and the Golden State’s elaborate plumbing system than what falls south of the Tehachapi Mountains. We plan to make that information available here for our community too.Places in Southern California fared better, with downtown Los Angeles getting 77% of normal rainfall for the three-year period, and San Diego coming in at 85%. The data will allow the SRFD to identify potential wildfire threats within the city limits and be better prepared. During the September 2022 heat event, the RAWS was placed in the upper elevations of Fountaingrove and firefighters were able to monitor the drastic differences in temperature, wind and humidity in the hills of Santa Rosa versus our valley floor. The sixth RAWS is a portable station and can be deployed around the city as needed. The information will provide the Fire Department and our Emergency Management team better situational awareness year-round, including fire season and winter storms. Five of stations have been strategically placed around the city on Fire and Water Department properties and will monitor local weather conditions. The Santa Rosa Fire Department (SRFD) received grant funding through FEMA and CAL OES to purchase six Remote Automatic Weather Stations (RAWS). Coming Soon to This Page: Fire Remote Automatic Weather Stations (RAWS) Information:
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