Abnormal Drought in California: State Prepares for Early and Intense Fire Season

The dry start of the year led to an abnormal drought in much of California. State authorities have begun preparations for a possible earlier and more intense season of forest fires amid record temperatures. Writes about this ABC News.

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According to a published US drought monitoring map, drought spread from just under 10% of the state in mid-February to almost a quarter, mostly in central California, the heart of the state’s agricultural sector. A weekly updated map shows that 43% of the state is currently experiencing an abnormally dry period.

This month promises to be the driest February in the history of the state. Light rains are possible on the evening of Saturday, February 29, but they will not recur, at least until March 10.

Sierra Littlefield, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento, says there's a good chance the state capital will end with a completely dry February - the first February without rain since 1864.

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This year's lack of rain comes on the heels of a wet 2019 that blanketed mountains with snow, filled reservoirs with water and increased lush vegetation that can quickly turn into fuel for wildfires in dry, windy conditions.

About 75% of California's annual precipitation typically falls between December and February, mostly from atmospheric rivers—currents of moisture that originate in the Pacific Ocean.

But high pressure in the Pacific blocked storms from entering California and instead directed them to the northwest of the Pacific.

“California and parts of the Southwest dried out, and the Northwest experienced excess precipitation,” wrote NOAA meteorologist David Miscus, who released the Drought Monitor report.

Similar high pressure led to drought throughout the state from 2011 to 2017. Nearly 40 million Californians have been ordered to cut their water use by 25%, the first order of its kind in the state.

Californians heeded the call, reduced the time spent in the shower and did not water the lawns during a five-year drought.

Officials from government water authorities said it was too early to consider measures to save water, and noted that the state’s water reservoirs were at the right level.

"A few dry months don't really cause a drought," said Chris Orrock, a spokesman for the Department of Water Resources. “If we have to go through two dry years, then we will start looking at what additional water conservation measures we need.”

California authorities also conducted a study of snow cover in Sierra Nevada and found that it was at 47% of the average for March.

The first study on January 2 showed that snow cover was 97% of the January average. But dry conditions have since prevented snowfalls that provide about 30% of California water.

“February rain and snow were pretty sparse,” said Sean de Guzman, chief of snow research and water supply forecasting. “We will likely end this year with below average water levels.” We just don’t know how little it will be.”

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On Thursday, February 27, US Forest Service crews fought a fire in the Mendosino National Forest in Northern California. In Southern California, firefighters quickly put out several fires on Wednesday, February 26th.

Since the beginning of the year, 280 small fires have been put out. Only 85 fires were recorded over the same period last year, said Scott Macklin, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

In early February, the Forestry Service fought a fire at an altitude of 4000 feet (1219,2 meters), where snow should have been lying at that time of year.

Macklin said California is prepared for fires and authorities are developing mitigation programs in this regard.

As ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• While California has a record dry February, federal regulators have ordered drain a large reservoir south of san jose. This measure is caused by fears that as a result of an earthquake a collapse of the dam may occur, and this will lead to an influx of water into Silicon Valley.

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