All articles tagged with #central valley
Blue Diamond Growers plans to close its historic midtown Sacramento almond plant, affecting around 600 jobs over the next two years, and shift manufacturing to Turlock and Salida to improve efficiency, while the company continues to expand internationally amidst financial pressures.
The last total eclipse crossing the United States for the next 20 years will occur on April 8, with the Central Valley experiencing a partial eclipse. The eclipse will be at its maximum point in various Central Valley locations around 11 a.m., and residents are encouraged to use proper eyecare, such as solar viewing glasses, when observing the event. Local libraries in Fresno are offering free solar viewing glasses while supplies last, and NASA recommends using specialized eclipse filters for smartphone photography.
The Central Valley will experience a partial solar eclipse on April 8, with the maximum point of the eclipse occurring around 11 a.m. Various locations in the valley will see the eclipse at its peak between 11:14 a.m. and 11:16 a.m. It is important for observers to use proper eyecare, such as solar viewing glasses, as regular sunglasses or eyeglasses are not sufficient for protecting the eyes during a solar eclipse. Free solar viewing glasses are available at local libraries in Fresno, and NASA recommends using specialized eclipse filters for smartphone photography of the event.
The Central Valley will experience a partial solar eclipse on April 8, with the maximum point of the eclipse occurring around 11 a.m. Various locations in the valley will see the eclipse at its peak at slightly different times. It is important for observers to use proper eyecare, such as solar viewing glasses, as regular sunglasses or eyeglasses with tinted lenses are not sufficient for protecting the eyes during a solar eclipse. Free solar viewing glasses are available at local libraries in Fresno, and NASA recommends using specialized eclipse filters for smartphone photography of the event.
A heat wave is expected to hit the Bay Area later this week, with temperatures reaching the mid-to-high 90s in many cities and up to 105 in inland areas. The Central Valley and Las Vegas are also forecasted to experience extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 114 and 117 degrees respectively. The heat is being driven by a high pressure system known as a "heat dome." Meanwhile, wildfires continue to rage in Canada, with record-breaking acres burned. Other parts of the United States, such as Florida and Texas, are also experiencing high temperatures and humidity. Climate change and El Niño conditions are exacerbating these extreme weather events, increasing public health threats and the risk of wildfires.
A Powerball ticket worth $2.7 million was sold in Stockton, California, with five of the six winning numbers matching. The jackpot for the next drawing is estimated to be $650 million.
The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat watch for California's Central Valley, where temperatures are expected to reach as high as 110 to 115 degrees. Heat-related illnesses are possible if precautions are not taken. The upcoming heat wave is expected to bring "major heat risk" to inland areas, while the Bay Area will experience less extreme heat due to sea breezes. Temperatures in the Bay Area will be 5 to 15 degrees above normal, with the highest chances for temperatures in the 100s in certain counties. A heat advisory will also be in effect for inland portions of the Bay Area. This heat event, although not likely to break temperature records, will feel significant as it marks the first big warm-up of the year after an unusually chilly spring and start to summer in California.
A warm ridge of high pressure is forecast to raise above-average temperatures across California on Wednesday and Thursday, leading to an elevated heat risk in parts of the Bay Area. The National Weather Service predicts a moderate heat risk for inland cities like Sacramento, Fairfield, Concord, and San Jose on Thursday and Friday, with temperatures expected to reach the upper 80s to lower 90s away from the coast, and mid-90s possible around Sacramento. A few cities in the Central Valley could reach 100, leading to heat stress for sensitive populations. San Francisco, Oakland, and most of the coast will be spared from the worst of this week's warmup.
Unseasonably warm temperatures in California are causing the historic snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains to melt, leading to flooding in the Central Valley and threatening communities like Corcoran. The snowpack, which is more than three times the average, feeds into four major rivers that eventually empty into the Tulare Lake Basin. Local, state, and federal officials are preparing for the flood threat, which is expected to worsen in the coming weeks.
Governor Gavin Newsom visited the Tulare Lake Basin in the Central Valley to survey the flooding caused by recent storms, which have brought water levels not seen in nearly four decades. Newsom toured three impacted locations, including Allensworth, where community members explained the continued hardships after losing their homes, and the Avenue 56 Project, where a road was elevated to create a reliable pathway for the Alpaugh community. The governor ended his day by touring Hansen Ranches, where miles of land are under feet of water, and farmworkers are concerned about the ongoing impact of flooding.
After heavy rain and snow, California is now facing flood risks due to melting snow. The Tulare Lake Basin and other areas of the Central Valley are of particular concern, as they have already seen storm flooding this year and remain in the path of snow runoff and releases from nearby dams. Major waterways such as the San Joaquin River and tributaries will also see treacherous conditions. The biggest threat will likely not arrive until temperatures reach the 90s for an extended period of time.
Water in California's Central Valley contains high levels of manganese, which can cause cognitive disabilities and motor control issues in children, and Parkinson's-like symptoms in adults. The highest concentrations of manganese are found in private, untreated well water systems, but it is also present in public water systems at higher concentrations than what studies have shown can have adverse health effects. Nearly half of all domestic well water users in the Central Valley live in disadvantaged communities, and nearly 89% of them have a high likelihood of accessing water that is highly contaminated with manganese.
Recent winter storms have wiped out drought conditions in California's Central Valley and along the California coast from western LA County to the Oregon border, according to the latest US Drought Monitor report. At the start of the water year in late September, the Central Valley was facing extreme to exceptional drought, but recent storms have brought significant rain and snow, resulting in a stark contrast. The average mid-March water equivalency of the high-elevation Sierra Nevada snowpack topped 55 inches, more than 220% of normal for an entire season, according to the California Department of Water Resources.