Sacramento Valley

Coordinates: 39°00′N 121°30′W / 39°N 121.5°W / 39; -121.5
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the Arizona valley, see Sacramento Valley (Arizona).
Sacramento Valley
Valle de Sacramento (
Sierra Nevada (east), Cascade Range, Klamath Mountains (north), Coast Range (west), Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta (south)
Coordinates39°00′N 121°30′W / 39°N 121.5°W / 39; -121.5 
RiversSacramento River

The Sacramento Valley (Spanish: Valle de Sacramento)[2][3] is the area of the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California that lies north of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and is drained by the Sacramento River. It encompasses all or parts of ten Northern California counties. Although many areas of the Sacramento Valley are rural, it contains several urban areas, including the state capital, Sacramento. Since 2010, statewide droughts in California have further strained both the Sacramento Valley's and the Sacramento metropolitan region's water security.[4]

Geography

The

Sierra Nevada to the east) that define the shape of the valley, they provide water for agricultural, industrial, residential, and recreation uses. Most of the rivers are heavily dammed and diverted. In more recent years, statewide droughts in California have further strained the Sacramento Valley's water security.[4]

California Gold Rush
and the ensuing wave of American settlement, although there are still some heavily tree-populated areas, such as the greater Sacramento area.

Foothills become more common from just south of Corning to Shasta Lake City. These are known as the Valley Hills and begin south of the Tehama-Glenn County line near Corning. There are also a few hills in Red Bluff and Corning. There is one major range of foothills between Cottonwood and Red Bluff known as the Cottonwood Hills (a.k.a. 9-mile Hill), and there is the Cottonwood Ridge between Anderson and Cottonwood. There are some hills in Redding, a few more than Red Bluff, and north of Redding it is mainly foothills.

One distinctive geographic feature of the Sacramento Valley is the Sutter Buttes. Nicknamed the smallest mountain range in the world, it consists of the remnants of an extinct volcano and is located just outside Yuba City, 44 miles north of Sacramento.

Agriculture

The Sacramento River watershed, including the valley and adjacent highlands.

Yuba City. The valley controls more than two-thirds of the worldwide prune market through the over 400 growers in California.[5]

Climate

Weather patterns in the Sacramento Valley are very similar to those in the San Joaquin Valley to the south, although the humidity and precipitation tend to be a bit higher. Summers are the dry season, with average daytime temperatures in the low to high 90s °F (low to mid 30s °C) but triple digits (38 °C and above) are a common occurrence, especially in Chico, Redding, Red Bluff, and Sacramento. The "breeze", which comes in from the Bay area, brings cooler temperatures and higher humidity. At times the delta breeze is gusty with wind speeds up to 30 mph (50 km/h) in the valley and 45 mph (75 km/h) in the oftentimes breezy delta region. This breeze can also bring morning low clouds at times into the region, but the clouds generally burn off quickly and temperatures stay cool. Summer-like conditions continue into early to mid-September but weather starts to change to cooler, wetter, foggier weather during October which gives trees vibrant autumn foliage. Winters, also known as the rainy season, are generally mild to cool, foggy and wet. Up north, the temperature averages in the mid-40s °F (mid-to-high single digits °C) and lows reaching to the low-10s °F (-10 to -12 °C), colder in the northern part of the valley and colder still in the foothills and frost can occur almost anywhere. Farther south near Sacramento, temperatures tend to stay between the low-50s and high-60s °F (10-20 °C), with nighttime temperatures dropping to the mid-30s and 40s °F (1-7 °C). The rainy season runs from November to early-April. During the rainy season, the Sacramento Valley is prone to strong thunderstorms and tornadoes, mostly of EF0 or EF1 intensity, especially in Colusa County and areas around Corning and Orland. Flooding does occur at times during wetter periods, usually November to March. Snow in the valley is rare, although Redding and Red Bluff, being at the north end of the valley, often experience a light dusting or two per year. Chico may get a rain-snow mix every few years, but, on the average, only snows about every 5 years. Farther south in Sacramento, snow rarely occurs. During the autumn and winter months, the entire Central Valley is susceptible to dense tule fog that makes driving hazardous, especially at night and especially south of Corning. The fog can last for weeks depending on how weak the wind is. In more recent years, statewide droughts in California have further strained both the Sacramento Valley's and the San Joaquin Valley's water security.[4]

Climate data for Sacramento, California (Sacramento Executive Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1941–present[a]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 76
(24) 		78
(26) 		88
(31) 		95
(35) 		105
(41) 		115
(46) 		114
(46) 		112
(44) 		114
(46) 		104
(40) 		87
(31) 		74
(23) 		115
(46)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 65.2
(18.4) 		71.1
(21.7) 		78.1
(25.6) 		87.4
(30.8) 		95.3
(35.2) 		103.1
(39.5) 		105.3
(40.7) 		104.1
(40.1) 		100.6
(38.1) 		91.8
(33.2) 		76.5
(24.7) 		65.1
(18.4) 		107.0
(41.7)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 56.0
(13.3) 		61.3
(16.3) 		66.3
(19.1) 		72.1
(22.3) 		80.3
(26.8) 		87.9
(31.1) 		92.6
(33.7) 		91.9
(33.3) 		88.5
(31.4) 		78.8
(26.0) 		65.0
(18.3) 		56.0
(13.3) 		74.7
(23.7)
Daily mean °F (°C) 47.6
(8.7) 		51.4
(10.8) 		55.4
(13.0) 		59.5
(15.3) 		66.1
(18.9) 		72.2
(22.3) 		75.9
(24.4) 		75.3
(24.1) 		72.5
(22.5) 		64.5
(18.1) 		53.9
(12.2) 		47.3
(8.5) 		61.8
(16.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 39.2
(4.0) 		41.5
(5.3) 		44.5
(6.9) 		47.0
(8.3) 		52.0
(11.1) 		56.5
(13.6) 		59.2
(15.1) 		58.8
(14.9) 		56.5
(13.6) 		50.3
(10.2) 		42.7
(5.9) 		38.5
(3.6) 		48.9
(9.4)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 29.1
(−1.6) 		31.7
(−0.2) 		35.1
(1.7) 		37.9
(3.3) 		44.1
(6.7) 		49.5
(9.7) 		54.1
(12.3) 		53.8
(12.1) 		49.6
(9.8) 		41.7
(5.4) 		32.7
(0.4) 		28.7
(−1.8) 		26.9
(−2.8)
Record low °F (°C) 20
(−7) 		23
(−5) 		26
(−3) 		31
(−1) 		34
(1) 		41
(5) 		48
(9) 		48
(9) 		42
(6) 		35
(2) 		26
(−3) 		18
(−8) 		18
(−8)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.66
(93) 		3.49
(89) 		2.68
(68) 		1.26
(32) 		0.75
(19) 		0.23
(5.8) 		0.00
(0.00) 		0.04
(1.0) 		0.09
(2.3) 		0.85
(22) 		1.66
(42) 		3.43
(87) 		18.14
(461)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.0 9.1 9.0 5.1 3.6 1.1 0.1 0.2 0.7 3.1 6.1 9.6 57.7
Average
relative humidity
(%) 		83.3 76.8 71.6 64.5 58.9 55.0 53.2 55.7 57.0 63.1 75.6 82.9 66.5
Average dew point °F (°C) 39.4
(4.1) 		42.1
(5.6) 		42.8
(6.0) 		43.7
(6.5) 		46.9
(8.3) 		50.4
(10.2) 		53.1
(11.7) 		53.4
(11.9) 		50.9
(10.5) 		47.5
(8.6) 		43.7
(6.5) 		39.2
(4.0) 		46.1
(7.8)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 145.5 201.3 278.0 329.6 406.3 419.5 440.2 406.9 347.8 296.7 194.9 141.1 3,607.8
Percent possible sunshine 48 67 75 83 92 94 98 96 93 86 64 48 81
Source: NOAA (relative humidity, dew point and sun 1961–1990)[7][8][9]
Climate data for Sacramento 5 ESE, California (Sacramento State[10]), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1877–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 79
(26) 		80
(27) 		90
(32) 		98
(37) 		107
(42) 		112
(44) 		114
(46) 		112
(44) 		116
(47) 		102
(39) 		86
(30) 		72
(22) 		116
(47)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 66.4
(19.1) 		72.5
(22.5) 		80.6
(27.0) 		89.5
(31.9) 		97.1
(36.2) 		104.4
(40.2) 		106.7
(41.5) 		105.5
(40.8) 		102.0
(38.9) 		92.3
(33.5) 		77.3
(25.2) 		65.9
(18.8) 		108.1
(42.3)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 56.5
(13.6) 		62.2
(16.8) 		67.8
(19.9) 		73.5
(23.1) 		81.3
(27.4) 		89.0
(31.7) 		94.4
(34.7) 		93.5
(34.2) 		89.3
(31.8) 		78.9
(26.1) 		65.3
(18.5) 		56.4
(13.6) 		75.7
(24.3)
Daily mean °F (°C) 48.8
(9.3) 		52.9
(11.6) 		57.2
(14.0) 		61.4
(16.3) 		67.7
(19.8) 		73.9
(23.3) 		77.9
(25.5) 		77.3
(25.2) 		74.0
(23.3) 		65.9
(18.8) 		55.3
(12.9) 		48.5
(9.2) 		63.4
(17.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 41.1
(5.1) 		43.7
(6.5) 		46.7
(8.2) 		49.3
(9.6) 		54.0
(12.2) 		58.7
(14.8) 		61.4
(16.3) 		61.0
(16.1) 		58.8
(14.9) 		52.9
(11.6) 		45.3
(7.4) 		40.7
(4.8) 		51.1
(10.6)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 32.5
(0.3) 		35.4
(1.9) 		38.8
(3.8) 		41.6
(5.3) 		47.2
(8.4) 		51.9
(11.1) 		55.9
(13.3) 		55.9
(13.3) 		52.4
(11.3) 		45.1
(7.3) 		36.2
(2.3) 		31.9
(−0.1) 		30.5
(−0.8)
Record low °F (°C) 19
(−7) 		21
(−6) 		29
(−2) 		34
(1) 		37
(3) 		43
(6) 		47
(8) 		48
(9) 		44
(7) 		34
(1) 		27
(−3) 		17
(−8) 		17
(−8)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.87
(98) 		3.63
(92) 		2.82
(72) 		1.44
(37) 		0.86
(22) 		0.21
(5.3) 		0.00
(0.00) 		0.02
(0.51) 		0.15
(3.8) 		0.93
(24) 		1.78
(45) 		3.49
(89) 		19.20
(488)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.8 9.6 9.2 5.3 3.7 1.2 0.1 0.2 0.8 3.1 6.8 10.1 60.9
Source: NOAA[7][11][12], Western Regional Climate Center[13]
Climate data for Chico, California (1981–2010 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 77
(25) 		82
(28) 		93
(34) 		98
(37) 		108
(42) 		115
(46) 		117
(47) 		116
(47) 		114
(46) 		107
(42) 		91
(33) 		78
(26) 		117
(47)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 55.1
(12.8) 		61.1
(16.2) 		66.3
(19.1) 		72.6
(22.6) 		81.3
(27.4) 		88.7
(31.5) 		94.2
(34.6) 		93.7
(34.3) 		89.7
(32.1) 		79.4
(26.3) 		64.8
(18.2) 		55.6
(13.1) 		75.3
(24.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 35.4
(1.9) 		38.3
(3.5) 		41.5
(5.3) 		45.2
(7.3) 		51.9
(11.1) 		56.7
(13.7) 		60.5
(15.8) 		58.3
(14.6) 		54.6
(12.6) 		46.9
(8.3) 		39.9
(4.4) 		35.3
(1.8) 		47.1
(8.4)
Record low °F (°C) 12
(−11) 		16
(−9) 		23
(−5) 		27
(−3) 		30
(−1) 		38
(3) 		40
(4) 		38
(3) 		35
(2) 		23
(−5) 		20
(−7) 		11
(−12) 		11
(−12)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.86
(123) 		4.42
(112) 		4.29
(109) 		1.75
(44) 		1.04
(26) 		.48
(12) 		.02
(0.51) 		.08
(2.0) 		.42
(11) 		1.42
(36) 		3.28
(83) 		4.61
(117) 		26.67
(677)
Source: Western Regional Climate Center [14]
Climate data for Redding, California (1961–1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 57.3
(14.1) 		61.3
(16.3) 		62.5
(16.9) 		69.9
(21.1) 		80.5
(26.9) 		90.4
(32.4) 		98.3
(36.8) 		95.7
(35.4) 		89.3
(31.8) 		77.6
(25.3) 		62.1
(16.7) 		54.7
(12.6) 		74.8
(23.8)
Daily mean °F (°C) 45.5
(7.5) 		50.7
(10.4) 		52.5
(11.4) 		58
(14) 		66.4
(19.1) 		76.1
(24.5) 		81.5
(27.5) 		79.5
(26.4) 		74.1
(23.4) 		63.5
(17.5) 		51.8
(11.0) 		45
(7) 		62
(17)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 35.7
(2.1) 		40
(4) 		41.7
(5.4) 		46
(8) 		52.3
(11.3) 		61.8
(16.6) 		64.7
(18.2) 		63.1
(17.3) 		58.8
(14.9) 		49.2
(9.6) 		41.4
(5.2) 		35.2
(1.8) 		49.2
(9.6)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 6.06
(154) 		4.45
(113) 		4.38
(111) 		2.08
(53) 		1.27
(32) 		0.56
(14) 		0.17
(4.3) 		0.46
(12) 		0.91
(23) 		2.24
(57) 		5.21
(132) 		5.51
(140) 		33.3
(850)
Average precipitation days 13.1 8.7 12.3 7.9 7.2 4.0 0.6 0.9 2.1 4.1 6.8 10.2 77.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours 226 256 312 351 395 423 451 421 338 314 251 204 3,942
Source: [15]

Transportation

See also: Transportation in the Sacramento metropolitan area

Interstate 505 and State Route 113
. The Sacramento area has a web of urban freeways.

Other principal routes in the region include

California Gold Rush and running through many old mining towns in the foothills of the valley; and State Route 45
, which runs along the course of the Sacramento River roughly ten miles (20 km) east of I-5.

The

Southern Pacific Railroad line on the west side of the valley from Davis to Tehama
(near Red Bluff).

Educational institutions

California State University, Chico was founded in 1887.
University of California, Davis.

Professional sports teams

National Basketball Association (NBA)

Pacific Coast League (minor league baseball)

Independent Women's Football League

Women's Premier Soccer League

United Soccer League (USL)

  • Sacramento Republic

Cities

Cities with over 500,000 inhabitants

Cities with 100,000 to 400,000 inhabitants

Cities with 50,000 to 100,000 inhabitants

Cities with 10,000 to 50,000 inhabitants

Cities with under 10,000 inhabitants

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Official records for Sacramento were kept exclusively at the airport since 10 November 1941.[6]

References

  1. ^ Diaz, Manuel (1840). Diseño del Valle de Sacramento (Map).
  2. ^ California Energy Commission - Reporte de la región del Valle de Sacramento
  3. ^ Univision Sacramento - Regresan la lluvia y nevadas al Valle de Sacramento: esto se espera para el fin de semana
  4. ^ a b c McGough, Michael (April 29, 2022). "Southern California gets drastic water cutbacks amid drought. What's next for Sacramento?". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  5. ^ "Sunsweet Growers Inc". Careers in food. Archived from the original on 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
  6. ^ "Threaded Extremes". threadex.rcc-acis.org.
  7. ^ a b "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  8. ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals SACRAMENTO EXECUTIVE AP, CA US 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  9. ^ "WMO Climate Normals for SACRAMENTO/EXECUTIVE ARPT CA 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  10. Sacramento Bee
    .
  11. ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals SACRAMENTO 5 ESE, CA US 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  12. ^ "Global Summary of the Month". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  13. ^ "SACRAMENTO 5 ESE, CALIFORNIA". Western Regional Climate Center.
  14. ^ "CHICO EXPERIMENT STN, CALIFORNIA". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  15. ^ "Average Weather for Redding, CA - Temperature and Precipitation". Retrieved 31 December 2009.


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