Text Products for DGT Issued by LOX

Drought Information Statement
Issued by NWS Los Angeles, CA
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Drought Information Statement
National Weather Service Los Angles/Oxnard CA
834 AM PDT Sat Oct 2 2021

...Drought Conditions Update for Southwestern California...

.SYNOPSIS...

Many areas in Southwest California are experiencing below normal
precipitation during the current water year. A water year is October
1 through September 30. At present, many locations within Ventura
and Los Angeles Counties have only had between 21% and 54% of normal
rainfall this water year. On the current US Drought Monitor Map,
which is a map updated on a weekly basis showing current drought
related conditions in the United States, San Luis Obispo, Santa
Barbara, and Los Angeles Counties are in Extreme Drought (D3)
with a sliver of Exceptional Drought (D4) along the borders with Kern
County. Much of Ventura County and the northwest corner of Los Angeles
County are in Exceptional Drought (D4). This depiction is the result
of mostly a meteorological drought (below normal precipitation) and
impacts to pasture and rangeland. Many livestock owners in these
Counties have had to supplement livestock feed due to poor range
conditions.

Currently the U.S. Drought Monitor classifies 100% of the state of
California in any dryness or drought category. The U.S. Drought
Monitor classifies dryness and drought into five categories of
increasing severity: Abnormally Dry (D0)...Moderate Drought
(D1)...Severe Drought (D2)...Extreme Drought (D3) ...and Exceptional
Drought (D4).

The US Drought Monitor Map can be found at:

https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/

On April 21, 2021 California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an
Emergency Proclamation for Drought in Sonoma and Mendocino counties.

https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/4.21.21-Emergency-
Proclamation-1.pdf

On May 10, 2021 California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a second
Emergency Proclamation for drought in an additional 37 counties.
This new proclamation now covers 41 of 58 California counties.

https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/5.10.2021-Drought-
Proclamations.pdf

On July 8, 2021 California Governor Gavin Newson issued a third
Emergency Proclamation for drought in an additional 9 counties which
includes San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. Additionally,
Governor Newsom called for 15% voluntary water reductions.

https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021-11-Drought-
Extension-Proc.pdf

https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Conservation-EO-N-
10-21.pdf

.SUMMARY OF IMPACTS...

For a summary of drought impacts in the State of California, see the
following informational links:

https://water.ca.gov/Water-Basics/Drought

https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?CA

RESERVOIRS...

Following is a summary of reservoir levels in central and
southwestern California.

Gibraltar Reservoir in Santa Barbara County is currently at 4.9% of
its storage capacity.

Jameson Reservoir in Santa Barbara County is currently at 61.2% of
its storage capacity.

Cachuma Reservoir in Santa Barbara County is currently at 49.7% of
its storage capacity.

Lake Nacimiento in San Luis Obispo County is currently at 12% of its
storage capacity.

Lake San Antonio in San Luis Obispo County is currently at 7% of
its storage capacity.

Lopez Lake in San Luis Obispo County is currently at 30.9% of its
storage capacity.

Lake Casitas in Ventura County is currently at 33.4% of its storage
capacity.

Lake Piru in Ventura County is currently at 17.7% of its storage
capacity.

Castaic Lake in Los Angeles County is currently at 35.5% of its
storage capacity.

Pyramid Lake in Los Angeles County is currently at 97.7% of its
storage capacity.

.CLIMATE SUMMARY...

Current water year (October 2020-September 2021) rainfall totals for
selected locations are:

San Luis Obispo   10.73 inches or 46% of normal to date
Santa Barbara      7.31 inches or 41% of normal to date
Oxnard             3.47 inches or 22% of normal to date
Los Angeles        6.05 inches or 41% of normal to date


.PRECIPITATION/TEMPERATURE OUTLOOK...

NOAA`s National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center`s outlook
for the next 30 days in southern California is indicating equal
chances of below normal, normal, and above normal precipitation and
equal chances of below normal, normal, and above normal temperatures.
This means near normal temperatures and most likely near normal
precipitation conditions will prevail across the area into Fall.


.HYDROLOGIC SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK...

No significant increases in area rivers and reservoirs are expected
over the next month.


.NEXT ISSUANCE DATE...

The next Drought Information Statement will be issued in early November
2021 or sooner if necessary in response to significant changes in
conditions.

&&


.RELATED WEB SITES...

California Data Exchange Center:
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/
California Nevada River Forecast Center:
https://www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/
U.S. Drought Monitor:
https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/
U.S. Drought Portal:
https://www.drought.gov/
California Drought Page:
http://www.water.ca.gov/waterconditions/
https://water.ca.gov/Water-Basics/
Drought Climate Prediction Center:
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard:
http://www.weather.gov/
https://www.weather.gov/lox/hydrology
Los Angeles California Daily Streamflow Conditions:
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ca/nwis/rt
California Drought State of Emergency Declaration:
https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/4.21.21-Emergency-
Proclamation-1.pdf
https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/5.10.2021-Drought-
Proclamations.pdf

.ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...

Climate Prediction Center
U.S. Drought Monitor
California Nevada River Forecast Center
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard
California Department of Water Resources
United States Geological Survey
County of San Luis Obispo
County of Santa Barbara
County of Ventura
County of Los Angeles
Association of California Water Agencies

.QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS...

Please refer all questions to w-lox.webmaster@noaa.gov

$$

Laber

weather.gov/losangeles
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office
