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The State Water Resources Control Board sent letters to about 20,000 water rights holders, including farms and cities, to warn them to prepare for mandatory cutbacks in a matter of weeks. The notices went to rights holders in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Russian, Scott, Shasta, Mill Creek and Deer Creek watersheds. In 2021, requests for curtailment came in August. This year, however, the request is coming in the spring, a dire warning that the drought is intense. The Sacramento Bee (Calif.), March 22, 2022

Fire officials on the Sacramento Ranger District in Cloudcroft, NM, plan to implement prescribed fire operations on the 16 Springs Prescribed Fire project beginning in March and carrying into April of 2022. The 16 Springs Prescribed Fire is targeting 564 acres and is located on federal land five miles north of Mayhill, NM.  The project lies within the Dry Burnt Canyon. Exact ignition dates will be dependent upon weather and fuel moisture conditions. Fire managers will monitor conditions closely to ensure that they fall within acceptable ranges before beginning the burn. Optimal conditions result in good ventilation and smoke dispersal, as well as help achieve the desired effects needed to accomplish forest restoration and improve the health of the forest. The purpose of this project is woodland restoration and enhancement of ponderosa pine stands by reducing ground and ladder fuels, which in turn will reduce the severity of wildland fire in the future.  This could help aid in...

Throughout winter and spring fire personnel on the Lincoln National Forest will be prescribe burning in the La Luz and Maruche Canyons on the Sacramento Ranger District in Otero County as conditions allow. Approximately 146 acres of slash piles are planned for burning in the area. The prescribed burn area is about 3-4 miles north of High Rolls.  Prescribed fire, including pile burning, reduces the risk of severe wildfire and allow less intense fire to play its natural role in a frequent-fire ecosystem like the Lincoln National Forest. Fuel treatments, such as prescribed burns, are an effective way to slow wildfires and moderate fire behavior. The decision to implement a specific prescribed burn depends on multiple conditions, including the firefighter availability, fuel moisture levels, air quality, smoke dispersal, and

A wildfire burned about 900 acres in wooded canyons of southern Lincoln County for almost a week before firefighters were able to contain and extinguish the blaze. The area was nearly inaccessible so helicopters were used to drop water on the flames. North Platte Bulletin (Neb.), March 21, 2022

Drought conditions led the Sonoma County Water Agency to begin the annual process of drawing from the Russian River weeks earlier than normal. A rubber dam was inflated near Forestville on March 21 to create a small pool that the agency draws water from to use in four off-stream infiltration pools for recharging groundwater. KPIX-TV CBS 5 San Francisco (Calif.), March 22, 2022

A volunteer firefighter lost her life while battling a Comanche County fire. Six wildfires burned in Comanche County with three of them being larger than 100 acres. Two mandatory evacuation orders were issued for two parts of the county. Wildfires have been an issue in the region since December with low humidity, high winds and unusually warm temperatures. The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Okla.), March 22, 2022

No Mesoscale Discussions are in effect as of Tue Mar 22 12:52:03 UTC 2022.

Public Severe Weather Outlook
PUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 0743 AM CDT TUE MAR 22 2022 ...Severe thunderstorms expected over parts of the lower Mississippi Valley today... * LOCATIONS... Much of Mississippi Southern and eastern Louisiana Western Alabama * HAZARDS... Widespread damaging winds, some hurricane force Several tornadoes, a few intense Isolated large hail * SUMMARY... A regional severe weather outbreak appears likely across the Lower Mississippi Valley and central Gulf Coast States today, with some threat continuing into tonight. Tornadoes, some of which should be strong, and potentially widespread damaging winds will be the most impactful hazards. Preparedness actions... Review your severe weather safety procedures for the possibility of dangerous weather today. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, weather.gov, or other media for watches and warnings. A watch means that conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms over the next several hours. If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued for your area, move to a place of safety, ideally in an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. && ..Grams.. 03/22/2022 Read more

SPC 1300Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0738 AM CDT Tue Mar 22 2022 Valid 221300Z - 231200Z ...THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SOUTHWEST TO EAST LOUISIANA...CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI...FAR WESTERN ALABAMA... ...SUMMARY... A regional severe weather outbreak appears likely across the Lower Mississippi Valley and central Gulf Coast States today, with some threat continuing into tonight. Tornadoes, some of which should be strong, and potentially widespread damaging winds will be the most impactful hazards. ...Lower MS Valley and Central Gulf Coast States... An elongated QLCS is ongoing from northwest MS to southeast TX. Much of the overnight severe threat has been subdued given the slow movement of the squall line in between two primary shortwave impulses (lead one now in eastern KS and the next one over the Lower Rio Grande Valley). Forcing for ascent downstream of the latter impulse appears to be influencing the far southern extent of the QLCS near the Upper TX Coast. This will support eventual forward acceleration of the QLCS today as a sub-synoptic surface cyclone tracks northeast from near Houston, TX to near Memphis, TN within a nearly meridional deep-layer flow regime. The plume of moderate buoyancy near the Upper TX Coast and much of LA will shift/expand across most of MS into far western AL through this afternoon as the boundary-layer warms within cloud breaks. With at least a 60-70 kt south-southwesterly low-level jet, classic sickle-shaped hodographs in a broad portion of the warm/moist sector will conditionally support potential for a regional tornado outbreak. The primary uncertainty is the degree of warm-sector discrete supercell development ahead of the QLCS. The most plausible corridor for this to occur appears to be from near the northern LA/southwest MS border area to the MS/AL border area from midday through the afternoon. It still looks more probable that the bulk of convective activity will ultimately remain tied to the QLCS given the largely meridional flow regime. The impinging of an intensifying mid-level jet should favor bowing segments (especially with northern extent) and embedded supercells. Tornadoes from both supercells and mesovortices are likely, some of which will probably be strong, with the greatest potential this afternoon. Damaging winds may become widespread, with multiple long-lived swaths possible. The overall severe threat should diminish during the evening through a combination of the northern portion of the QLCS outpacing surface-based instability and waning of large-scale ascent near the central Gulf Coast as the shortwave impulse ejects away from the region to the north-northeast. Nevertheless, a still strong low-level jet and presence of rich boundary-layer moisture will foster a persistent but probably spatially diminishing threat tonight across parts of AL and the western FL Panhandle. ...Western to northern MO... Scattered low-topped convection is expected to develop midday into the afternoon in the left-exit region of the intense mid-level jet over the south-central states. Boundary-layer winds are consistently forecast to diminish during this time frame, as the area remains well displaced from the tighter pressure gradient over the OH/TN Valleys. In addition, buoyancy is expected to be meager and mid-level lapse rates modest. While small hail may accompany the most robust updrafts, the overall setup does not appear favorable for an appreciable threat of organized severe storms. ..Grams/Gleason.. 03/22/2022 Read more

WW 0058 Status Updates
STATUS REPORT ON WW 58 SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES RIGHT OF A LINE FROM 20 WSW LBX TO 35 ESE UTS TO 50 NNW BPT. ..GLEASON..03/22/22 ATTN...WFO...HGX...EWX... STATUS REPORT FOR WT 58 SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS TXC039-071-167-201-291-221340- TX . TEXAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE BRAZORIA CHAMBERS GALVESTON HARRIS LIBERTY GMZ335-221340- CW . ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS INCLUDED ARE GALVESTON BAY THE WATCH STATUS MESSAGE IS FOR GUIDANCE PURPOSES ONLY. PLEASE REFER TO WATCH COUNTY NOTIFICATION STATEMENTS FOR OFFICIAL INFORMATION ON COUNTIES...INDEPENDENT CITIES AND MARINE ZONES CLEARED FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO WATCHES. Read more

WW 58 TORNADO TX CW 220600Z - 221300Z
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Tornado Watch Number 58 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 100 AM CDT Tue Mar 22 2022 The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a * Tornado Watch for portions of Southeast Texas Coastal Waters * Effective this Tuesday morning from 100 AM until 800 AM CDT. * Primary threats include... A couple intense tornadoes possible Scattered damaging winds and isolated significant gusts to 75 mph possible Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible SUMMARY...Squall line should begin to accelerate east out of south-central into southeast Texas through the pre-dawn. A few embedded supercells may develop ahead of the line. Main threats should be tornadoes and damaging winds. The tornado watch area is approximately along and 55 statute miles east and west of a line from 25 miles west of Lufkin TX to 75 miles west southwest of Houston TX. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU8). PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... REMEMBER...A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. && OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...CONTINUE...WW 56...WW 57... AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 65 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector 23035. ...Grams Read more

WW 0060 Status Updates
STATUS FOR WATCH 0060 HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED YET Read more

WW 60 TORNADO LA TX CW 221205Z - 221900Z
URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Tornado Watch Number 60 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 705 AM CDT Tue Mar 22 2022 The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a * Tornado Watch for portions of Western to northeast Louisiana Far southeast Texas Coastal Waters * Effective this Tuesday morning and afternoon from 705 AM until 200 PM CDT. * Primary threats include... A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts to 75 mph possible Isolated large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible SUMMARY...A slowly intensifying QLCS in southeast Texas should accelerate northeast across southwest to northeast Louisiana. A couple supercells may develop ahead of the squall line as well. The threat for tornadoes and damaging winds should increase by late morning and persist into the afternoon. The tornado watch area is approximately along and 55 statute miles north and south of a line from 35 miles north of Natchez MS to 25 miles northwest of Port Arthur TX. For a complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU0). PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... REMEMBER...A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. && OTHER WATCH INFORMATION...This tornado watch replaces tornado watch number 59. Watch number 59 will not be in effect after 705 AM CDT. CONTINUE...WW 58... AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 65 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector 23030. ...Grams Read more

WW 0059 Status Updates
STATUS REPORT ON WW 59 SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES RIGHT OF A LINE FROM 15 SSE LFK TO 25 NW IER TO 40 W MLU TO 20 W MLU. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SEE MESOSCALE DISCUSSION 0307 ..GLEASON..03/22/22 ATTN...WFO...SHV... STATUS REPORT FOR WT 59 SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS LAC013-081-085-221240- LA . LOUISIANA PARISHES INCLUDED ARE BIENVILLE RED RIVER SABINE TXC005-403-405-221240- TX . TEXAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE ANGELINA SABINE SAN AUGUSTINE THE WATCH STATUS MESSAGE IS FOR GUIDANCE PURPOSES ONLY. PLEASE REFER TO WATCH COUNTY NOTIFICATION STATEMENTS FOR OFFICIAL INFORMATION ON COUNTIES...INDEPENDENT CITIES AND MARINE ZONES CLEARED FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO WATCHES. Read more

WW 0057 Status Updates
STATUS REPORT ON WW 57 SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES RIGHT OF A LINE FROM 25 E ELD TO 35 W LLQ TO 10 NW LLQ. WW 57 WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE AT 220900Z. ..GLEASON..03/22/22 ATTN...WFO...LZK... STATUS REPORT FOR WS 57 SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS ARC011-220900- AR . ARKANSAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE BRADLEY THE WATCH STATUS MESSAGE IS FOR GUIDANCE PURPOSES ONLY. PLEASE REFER TO WATCH COUNTY NOTIFICATION STATEMENTS FOR OFFICIAL INFORMATION ON COUNTIES...INDEPENDENT CITIES AND MARINE ZONES CLEARED FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO WATCHES. Read more

Rocky Mountain Power in Utah asked the Public Service Commission of Utah to approve an average increase to Utah customer bills of 1.9% starting May 1, 2022. The reason for the rate increase is that drought and a heat wave in June and July 2021 increased power costs. Rocky Mountain Power provides electric service to 1.2 million customers in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. ABC4 (Salt Lake City, Utah), March 16, 2022

To adapt to the drier conditions, a farmer near Syracuse began growing different crops and invested in an expensive drip irrigation system to reduce water waste. This year his water district will give him about 60% of the usual amount of water. KSL-TV NBC 5 (Salt Lake City, Utah), March 14, 2022

Dry conditions in Dickinson County have not killed the wheat, but the harvest will be determined by the amount of precipitation received in coming weeks and months. Abilene Reflector-Chronicle (Kan.), March 11, 2022

Beer prices are rising due to drought-related barley shortages and rising fuel costs. Barley prices jumped more than 11 percent in the past two weeks, and wheat prices are also soaring. KTVQ-TV Q2 Billings (Mont.), March 17, 2022

Firefighters have responded to a wildfire in Jim Wells County, located west of Alice off of County Road 144, north of Hwy 44. Texas A&M Forest Service is currently in unified command with local fire departments. Forward progression of the fire has been stopped and one structure was threatened and saved. Local fire departments are on scene engaged in mop up operations. TAMFS engines and heavy equipment are constructing and securing containment line along the fire perimeter.The fire ignited and spread under Red Flag conditions present