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Spring outlook: Dry in the West, milder than average in the South and East
Forecasters from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center — part of the National Weather Service — issued the 2025 U.S. Spring Outlook for temperature, precipitation, drought and flooding for the coming months.
Forecasters predict above-average temperatures for the East and Gulf Coast regions, while drought conditions continue in the Southwest.
Experts at NOAA’s National Water Center predict that widespread major flooding is not expected this spring across the CONUS, and significantly reduced flood risk exists over much of the U.S., given above-average temperatures, combined with well-below-average snowpack over the Northern Plains, Midwest and Ohio Valley.
“The Spring Outlook provides critical information for our partners — including those in agriculture, shipping and recreation — allowing them to prepare for what’s ahead this spring and maximize their economic potential,” said Ken Graham, director of NOAA’s National Weather Service.
Moderate-to-exceptional drought conditions currently exist across more than 40% of the continental U.S. Drought conditions are likely to persist in the Southwest and parts of the Rocky Mountains, while drought improvement is forecast for the Great Lakes region. Drought development is likely across the central and southern Great Plains.
Much of the western U.S. is favored to receive below-average precipitation, with the greatest odds of below-average precipitation in the central and southern Rockies, including the Four Corners region. Precipitation is favored to be above-average in some areas of the Great Lakes and in northern and western Alaska.
Above-average temperatures are likely across much of the U.S., including locations that experienced colder-than-average temperatures and unusual snowfall during the winter.
For April through June, above-average temperatures are favored along the southern tier of the country and for the Eastern seaboard with the highest chances for central and south Florida, and an area stretching from the Texas and Louisiana coasts to southern Utah and eastern Nevada.
La Nina conditions emerged during the winter — with cooler-than-average conditions observed in the waters of the equatorial Pacific — but the event is weakening entering the spring months. There is a 75% probability that ENSO-neutral conditions — neither El Nino nor La Nina — will return in the February-April 2025 time frame.
“La Nina’s influence on the Spring Outlook is limited as it weakens entering the spring months,” said Jon Gottschalck, chief of the Operational Prediction Branch, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. “Other factors such as soil conditions and shorter-term climate patterns are more evident and influential when a strong ENSO signal is not present.”
Spring flood risk
NOAA’s National Hydrologic Assessment, issued by NOAA’s National Water Center, evaluates a number of factors, including current conditions of snowpack, drought, soil saturation levels, frost depth, streamflow and precipitation.
This year’s assessment focuses on significant flood potential, defined as moderate and major flooding, and those locations with the potential for a higher degree of impact to life and property.
The East Coast and much of the western U.S. have had below-average precipitation during the winter months, resulting in a low threat of significant spring flooding. However, heavy rainfall at any time can lead to flooding.
"We do not anticipate widespread moderate or major flooding this year,” said Ed Clark, director of NOAA’s National Water Center.
NOAA’s Office of Water Prediction unveiled its Flood Inundation Mapping services in 2023, which provide actionable information to emergency and water managers to prepare for and respond to flood impacts. FIM provides the extent of flooding in Geospatial Information System format on an hourly basis, as well as a five-day flood inundation forecast.
These flood inundation mapping services are available now for 30% of the U.S. with expansions planned for release in the coming months. Services are accessible from the OWP’s National Water Prediction Service, or NWPS, launched last spring.
The NWPS website centralizes water-related products and services by combining local and regional forecast information with new national level capabilities.
Finally, spring is typically the busiest time of year for tornadoes, so this also is a good time to read up on tornado safety and prepare for the season ahead.
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- Written by: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Supervisors to consider letter regarding rural schools funds, Lakeport Fire appointment and cannabis project appeal
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Board of Supervisors this week will discuss sending a letter to federal officials in a bid to save an important funding stream for Lake County’s schools and roads, along with considering an appointment to the Lakeport Fire Protection District Board and an appeal of the Planning Commission’s denial in December of a cannabis project.The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 1, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
To participate in real-time, join the Zoom meeting by clicking this link.
The meeting ID is 865 3354 4962, pass code 726865. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16694449171,,86533544962#,,,,*726865#. The meeting can also be accessed via phone at 669 900 6833.
On the agenda is an untimed item to consider sending a letter of support for H.R. 1383, the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025.
The bill is cosponsored by Lake County’s member of the House of Representatives, Mike Thompson.
The report to the board from Supervisor Jessica Pyska explains that Secure Rural Schools Act funding “is vital for sustaining essential services, particularly education and infrastructure in rural communities like Lake County's that contain significant federal lands.”
Pyska said that in Fiscal Year 2023, Lake County entities were allocated $465,316.51, in consideration of the 258,602 acres of the Mendocino National Forest located within the county’s boundaries.
Nearly half of that amount was allocated for rural road improvements, Pyska said.
“The Secure Rural Schools program has been instrumental in providing stable funding for our schools and infrastructure, compensating for the decline in timber revenue for more than two decades. Rural roads that ensure access to schools, ingress and egress in the event of wildfire emergencies, and promote rural economic opportunity are maintained using this crucial funding source,” Pyska said in her report.
She said the letter “will demonstrate our Board's strong support for this legislation; public safety, long-term economic vibrancy, and access to critical services will all be affected if it is not reauthorized.”
County staff also recommends the board sign the letter, Pyska’s memo said.
In other business, at 9:30 a.m., the board will consider an appointment to the Lakeport Fire Protection District Board of Directors.
The fire board held a special meeting on March 25 to interview six candidates: Terry Cherney, Gary Deas, Joseph Iaccino, Gregory Scott, Joseph Szupello and Jennifer Williams-Richardson.
In a letter to Supervisor Brad Rasmussen dated March 27, Fire Chief Patrick Reitz reported, “After an in-depth interviewing process with six potential candidates, the Lakeport Fire Protection District Board of Directors motioned to recommend Dr. Joseph Iaccino for the open position on the Lakeport Fire Protection District Board.”
At 10 a.m., the board will hold a public hearing to consider an appeal by Nina Star Farms LLC and Nevelina Bogdanova regarding the Planning Commission’s Dec. 12 denial of a major use permit for the cannabis project, located at 23180 Shady Grove Road, Middletown.
The staff report said the project would include licenses for 37,446 square feet of mixed-light canopy within a 48,529 sf cultivation area and a transport license.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt a proclamation designating April 2025 as Poetry Month in Lake County.
5.2: Adopt proclamation designating the month of April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
5.3: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2024-100 establishing position allocations for fiscal year 2024-25, Budget Unit 1012, Administration.
5.4: a) Approve budget transfer of funds in Agricultural Commissioner from 001-2601-726.17.00 in the amount of $5,000 to 001-2601-726.62-74 and authorize chair to sign; and b) approve increase in heavy-duty weight truck capital asset to $30,037.02.
5.5: Approve Amendment No.1 to the agreement between County of Lake and Archway Recovery Services, Inc. for ASAM Levels 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5 and Withdrawal Management Levels 1 and 2 for FY 2024-25 with no change to the contract maximum and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.6: Adopt resolution authorizing the approval of Amendment 2 to the standard agreement between the Department of Health Care Services and the County of Lake to extend the term date by twelve months for an end date of June 30, 2026, and incorporating revisions to Exhibit A-Program Specifications and authorize the Behavioral Health director to sign the standard agreement amendment.
5.7: Adopt proclamation designating the week of April 6-12, 2025 as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
5.8: Approve long-distance travel for Dean Eichelmann, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, to attend the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Preparedness Summit in San Antonio, Texas, from April 28 to May 2, 2025.
5.9: Approve the 2025-2026 Juvenile Justice Realignment Block Grant Plan.
5.10: Approve Amendment No. 6 to the Tower and Ground Space License Agreement with AT&T and U.S. Cellular, which includes the county as signatory and ratifies the terms of the fifth amendment for equipment modifications made by U.S. Cellular and authorize the chair to sign.
5.11: Adopt resolution amending Resolution No. 2024-100 establishing position allocations for fiscal year 2024-2025, Budget Unit 8695, Special Districts.
5.12: Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District Board of Directors, a) Waive the competitive bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 2-38.4 Cooperative Purchases;
b) authorize Special Districts Administrator/Assistant Purchasing Agent to issue a purchase order not to exceed $170,000 to Peterson CAT for the purchase of a backhoe.
TIMED ITEMS
6.2, 9:03 a.m.: Pet of the Week.
6.3, 9:04 a.m.: New and Noteworthy at the Library.
6.4, 9:06 a.m.: National Poetry Month Poem of the Week.
6.5, 9:10 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating April 2025 as Poetry Month in Lake County.
6.6, 9:15 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the week of April 6-12, 2025 as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
6.7, 9:20 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
6.8, 9:30 a.m.: Consideration of appointment to Lakeport Fire Protection District Board of Directors.
6.9, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of appeal (AB 24-05) of the Planning Commission’s denial of major use permit (UP 20-14), Nina Star Farms, LLC/ Nevelina Bogdanova, applicant and appellant; location: 23180 Shady Grove Road, Middletown (APN 004-006-16).
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of letter of support for Assembly Bill 993 regarding the Rural Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) Reimbursement Program.
7.3: Consideration of letter of support for H.R. 1383, the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025.
7.4: Consideration of: a) Construction contract with Weeks Drilling & Pump Co. in the amount of $151,500 for a test well for the Spring Valley CSA-2 Water District (Pueblo Trail), and authorize the administrator to sign the contract; b) Construction contract with Weeks Drilling & Pump Co. in the amount of $177,500 for a test well for the North Lakeport CSA-21 Water District (Crystal Lake Way), and authorize the administrator to sign the contract; c) Construction contract with Weeks Drilling & Pump Co. in the amount of $177,500 for a test well for the North Lakeport CSA-21 Water District (Worley), and authorize the administrator to sign the contract.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee evaluation: Registrar of Voters Maria Valadez.
8.2: Public employee evaluation: County Librarian Christopher Veach.
8.3: Conference with labor negotiator: a) Chief negotiator: C. Torrez; County negotiators: S. Parker, S. Carter, C. Moreno, P. Samac, and D. Rico; b) Employee organizations: LCDDAA, LCDSA, LCCOA, LCEA, LCSEA, and LCSMA.
8.4: ADDENDUM - Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1) – In re Wellpath Holdings, Inc., et al.
8.5: ADDENDUM - Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9(d)(1) – FERC Proceeding No. P-77, Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.
8.6: ADDENDUM - Conference with legal counsel: Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(2), (e)(1) – Two potential cases.
8.7: ADDENDUM - Public employee discipline/dismissal/release.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Lakeport City Council to consider parcel map for affordable housing site in high fire area
LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council this week is scheduled to consider a final subdivision map for a property that is slated to be the site of a large affordable housing development and which a new fire map places in the highest fire severity zone in the city limits.The council will meet Tuesday, April 1, at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The agenda can be found here.
If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.
The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to
The meeting on Tuesday will begin with a proclamation designating April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and a presentation by the Lakeport Rotary Club.
On Tuesday’s agenda, the council will hold a public hearing to adopt a resolution approving the final parcel map for the Parkside Subdivision project, next to Westside Community Park.
The resolution calls for dividing the 15.26-acre property at 1310 Craig Ave. into four separate
residential parcels.
In February, the council adopted a resolution approving the issuance of $35 million in facility bonds to help fund the Parkside project, the first phase of which includes 64 units of affordable housing.
The project has faced fierce opposition from neighbors over the lack of roads going in and out of the area, which already has traffic congestion during events.
In September, the developer promised to build a new vehicle access bridge. However, City Manager Kevin Ingram told Lake County News that the current plan only includes an emergency vehicle access bridge, not a bridge with full vehicle access.
Access is particularly important in light of the release last month of a new Cal Fire fire hazard severity zone map for “Local Responsibility Areas,” including Lakeport. That map added more than 600 acres in the city, including where the Parkside development will be located, to the “very high” fire hazard severity zone.
In other business, the Blue Ribbon Committee for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake will present a slideshow on their activities.
On the consent agenda — items considered noncontroversial and usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the City Council’s regular meeting on March 18; approval of application 2025-015, with staff recommendations, for the SafeRx Youth Summit event; approval of application 2025-017, with staff recommendations, for the 2025 Health & Wellness Expo; approval of application 2025-018, with staff recommendations, for the Abuelitia’s Kitchen Street Fair; and adoption of a proposed resolution adopting a records retention schedule, and authorizing destruction of certain City records and rescinding Resolution No. 2943 (2024).
The council also will hold a closed session to discuss existing litigation, City of Lakeport et al. v. Amerisourcebergen Drug Corporation et al. and a case involving Amerisourcebergen Drug Corporation.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
East Region Town Hall meets April 2, plans discussion on transportation and park projects
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The East Region Town Hall, or ERTH, will get updates on roads, a new park and general projects when it meets this week.The meeting will take place beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, at the Moose Lodge, located at 15900 Moose Lodge Lane in Clearlake Oaks.
The meeting will be available via Zoom. The meeting ID is 813 6295 6146, pass code is 917658.
The guest speaker for the event will be John Speka, senior transportation planner for the Lake Area Planning Council.
Speka will discuss the Regional Transportation Plan and Active Transportation Plan which
identifies needs and priority projects over the next 20 years for all modes of transportation including streets and roads, highways, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and public transit.
Also on the agenda is an update on the development of John T. Klaus Park east of Clearlake Oaks. A county meeting was held last week to give updates on the concept design.
In other business, ERTH will discuss updates to its bylaws and website, and a proposed community mailer.
There also will be updates on the Commercial Cannabis Report and Cannabis Ordinance Task Force, General Plan and Shoreline Area Plan, and code enforcement-related matters regarding abandoned RVs, trash and a new county reporting system.
ERTH also will consider a letter of support for the Clearlake Oaks/Schindler Creek Initiative as well as a letter to Public Works regarding High Valley Road.
District 3 Supervisor EJ Crandell also is scheduled to give his monthly report.
ERTH’s next meeting will take place on May 7.
Members are Denise Loustalot, Angela Amaral, Jim Burton, Holly Harris and Maria Kann.
For more information visit the group’s Facebook page.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
