Late spring rain storms are expected to bring up to half an inch of rain in the North Bay over the weekend, potentially fueling wetter enough to delay the start of wildfire season in some areas.
According to the National, a weakened cold front over the ocean from Saturday night through Sunday with a fair amount of moisture, noting the storm’s impact into Oregon just over the North Bay and through the northern part of the state. Hoping to move forward. Weather Service. The Sierra Nevada will likely not have much snow, as is often the case when storms come down from the Gulf of Alaska.
The hills of the North Bay may receive about half an inch of rain, while the valleys of the North Bay may receive about a quarter of an inch. The East Bay is forecast to receive a few hundredths of an inch, the SF Peninsula may receive a few hundredths to a tenth, and the Santa Clara Valley is expected to receive a mark of one-hundredth of an inch of rain.
“It’s beneficial rain, especially for the North Bay. We’re expecting a quarter inch — that’s enough to slow the peak fire season in that area,” said NWS forecaster Ryan Walbrunn. “In the East Bay and South Bay, when you’re talking tenths or less, it’s not going to have any effect on fuel.”
Sonoma County is likely to see light rain on Saturday evening, while the rest of the Bay Area is expected to receive rain from Saturday night through Sunday morning, before the storm dissipates.
Although temperatures are forecast to remain below average due to cloud cover and onshore currents, the storm is not expected to be particularly cold due to the lack of cold air associated with the system. Along the coast and the gulf, the elevation is expected to be between 65 and 70, while the warmer inland valleys may see temperatures between 70 and 80. The lows can range from the upper 40s to the mid-50s.
“We usually expect one to three weak systems in June,” Walbrunn said. “It’s not unusual, but obviously we have a dry year. We’ll do whatever rain we can, especially in the North Bay.”
There is still a good chance of wet rain in the North Bay this weekend. Those obstacles are lessened elsewhere, although some very light rain or drizzle can at least moisten the ground in spots. #cocks pic.twitter.com/p0yKTaiSTe
— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) 3 June 2022
Dry weather is expected after the storm, as well as a gradual warming with above-average temperatures in mid-June. No other storm is on the horizon in the next seven to 10 days in the Bay Area.
Despite atmospheric river storms in October and December and rain in March and April, the fuel remains relatively dry. The Sierra Nevada snowpack, which accounts for 30% of the state’s water supply, has reached its lowest level in decades, reaching 7% of normal on Thursday.
“We get rain especially in June for places like San Francisco, just not in huge amounts, so it will keep us on track,” Walbrunn said. “It is normal to get a weak weather system in June. It would be unusual to see no rain in June. A trail of rain was found at the San Francisco airport for the month of May; A typical May may take about half an inch.
The US Drought Monitor also reported Tuesday that about 98% of California is in “severe drought,” a 69% increase from nearly three months ago. About 60% of the state is in “extreme drought”, the second worst phase, up from 7% three months ago. Extreme drought has spread to the north coast, and all nine Gulf regions are currently in the grip of severe drought.
The National Interagency Fire Center Predictive Services also released its critical Wildland Fire Potential Outlook on Wednesday for June through September, showing increased fire activity in parts of California in May. The state is expected to witness a significant higher than normal fire potential during September.
Drought is expected to worsen in the summer months, although not as severe as in the past two years due to the reduced potential for longer, warmer periods. Fuels will continue to become more flammable, starting at lower altitudes and moving upward between June and July.
“A lot of fuel analysis shows that grass, limbs and trees are essentially as dry as they could be for June,” Walbrunn said. “When it rains on Sundays, it will temporarily reduce the risk of fire. Everything is still setting out as a busy fire season in July, August and September. ,
