shoal draught yacht

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Shallow Draft

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The outback has half the draft of most offshore vessels!

The Outback uniquely provides true offshore capability with the most shoal draft of any vessel in her class. Even more astonishing – she has a keel to help protect the running gear, taking modern tunnel technology to a new level. The prop/tunnel configuration of the Outback provides an amazing degree of efficiency and comfort.

The Outback significantly outperforms the vast majority of pod driven vessels in her class. Her tried and tested propulsion design reduces the build and maintenance cost, while increasing reliability and reducing draft. Whether you’re cruising the ICW, Bahamas or exploring meandering tributaries, the Outback can safely take you where other vessels her size dare not go.

SHALLOW-DRAFT CRUISERS

For new adventures, explore Oyster’s range of 50 to 90 foot shallow-draft bluewater cruisers

Oyster’s shallow-draft cruisers are the ultimate go anywhere adventure yachts.

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With remarkable draft reductions from 3.50m/11’6” to 1.79m/5’10”, Oyster shallow-draft models provide access to safe anchorages, marinas and river inlets at a moment’s notice.

Best of both worlds

Experience the best of both worlds with ultimate access to shallow-draft cruising grounds and truly outstanding bluewater performance.

Go anywhere

For those who wish to explore the places other yachts simply cannot reach, Oyster’s shallow-draft models open up a world of shallow cruising grounds and secluded bays, from the Exumas to the Tuamotu Atolls.

Shallow-draft keels are optional on four Oyster models and available in two formats. The Oyster 495 features a fixed shoal keel and the 595CB, 745CB and 885CB feature a lifting centreboard keel. All offer the advantages of shallow-draft cruising.

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Edwards Yacht Sales

• 866.365.0706

1996 Catalina 42 MKII Shoal Draft

• Racer and Cruiser
• Ruskin, FL, US

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• 2 New AC Units 16,000 BTU & 12,000 BTU (2022 & 2023)
• Kato Marine Sailboat Davits & Lift w/ Stabilizer (2022)
• West Marine Rib-310 w/ Yamaha 15 HP (electric Start) Tender (2023)

Advanced co brokerage Florida Sail is pleased to assist you in the purchase of this vessel. This boat is centrally listed by Professional Yacht Sales International.

Specifications

Descriptions, basic information, dimensions & weight, tank capacities, accommodations.

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• Kato Marine Davit "island Model"
• Kato Marine Outboard Lift "230 Model"
• Kato Marine Stainless Steel Slip on Stabilizer
• Mantus- M1 Anchor 65lb.
• Webasto A/C Unit 16,000 BTU (Aft) FCF0016000GS
• Webasto A/C Unit 12,000 BTU (Stern) FCF0012000GS
• West Marine Rib 310
• Fusion Stereo MS RA70NSX
• Doyle Main & Jib sails
• Furling boom system w/ power winch
• Navy Blue Canvas Bimini & Dodger
• Cockpit cushions
• 11 gallon Seaward hot water heater
• Macerator pump (Aft)
• Dual bilge pumps (2,000 gph & 1,500 gph)
• 2 Float Switches (Electronic submersible & Rule-A-Matic)
• Bilge counter guage
• Raymarine c95 Chartplotter
• Raymarine 4KW 48nm digital radar
• Raymarine Evolution Auto-pilot
• Raymarine wind & Transducer (Wireless)
• Class B AIS Transponder w/ built in GPS
• Dual VHF Radios (Nav Station & helm)
• Waterproof Handheld VHF
• MOB weighted float with flag, strobe & float
• Camaru Brazilian Teak Deck Flooring
• Onboard Island Time WIFI system
• Dual Solar panels to power electronics
• Battery Charger
• Xantrex Freedom x 2,000 True Sign Waver inverter
• Deep cycle 4 D Batteries (8)
• Ring Security System Camera w/ Floodlight
• Bilge monitoring security camera
• MASE powered by Yanmar Diesel Generator
• 2023 West Marine 310 Rib

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Specifications

Basic information.

• Builder O'Day
• Model 35 Shoal Draft
• Category Sloop
• HIN/IMO XDYZ20332D585
• Condition Used
• Fuel Type Diesel
• Hull Material Fiberglass
• LOA 35'
• Beam 11' 2"
• Fuel Tank 30 GAL
• Fresh Water 50 GAL
• Holding Tank 20 GAL
• Displacement 11,500 LBS
• Ballast 4,600 LBS
• Number of Engines 1
• Make Universal
• Power HP 21.00 HP

"Sound Advice" 1985 O'Day 35'

"Sound Advice" a 1985 O'day 35 Shoal Draft Sloop rigged, C. Raymond Hunt designed cruising sailboat that has been meticulously maintained with numerous updates. New sails, halyards , sheets and sail control lines. Powered by a Universal M25 Diesel auxiliary she is ready to go cruising.

Full Description

Sails and rigging.

• Main Z sail (2024)
• Headsail (135% Genoa) Z sail (2024)
• Neil Pryde Main Sail (1985) in fair condition
• Kappa Headsail (135% Genoa) (2006) in good condtion
• Neil Pryde Cruising Sponnaker (1985) in very good condition
• Selden Furlex 330 S roller furling
• Harken 40ST electric winch
• (2) Barlow 25 winches
• (1) Barlow 24 winch
• New lines (2024) for Genoa lead control lines, boom vang control lines ( 8 to 1 purchase), cunningham lines
• New lines (2024) out haul, topping lift, lazy jacks,
• Harken mainsheet and roller furling blocks

Marine Electronics

• Garmin EchoMap 94sv Chart Plotter
• Raytheon RL 72 Pathfinder Radar
• RayMarine ST60 wind instruments
• RayMarine ST60 Speed instruments & knotmeter
• RayMarine ST60 Depth Sounder
• Standard Horizon Quantum GX2360S VHF Radio
• Standard Horizon RAM 3 microphone ( in cockpit)
• RayMarine ST60001 + w/GyroPlus Autopilot (below deck)
• RayMarine Raystar RS125 GPS Receiver (interfaced to the RayMarine instruments)

Electrical System

• 2 Group 24 Deep Cycle Batteries (2023)
• 1 Group 24 starting Battery
• Heart Interface Model 20 Inverter/charger
• Link 200 R Monitor
• Balmar high output alternator
• 30 AMP shore power inlet
• AC and DC Panels with breakers
• Propane 2 burner stove
• Adler Barbour refrigeration
• Magma grill
• SS sink with pressurized water system
• Universal M25 3 cylinder FWC Diesel motor (21 HP)
• Hurth HBW-50 reduction gear
• 2 blade bronze prop
• Water lift muffler

The O'Day 35 offers contemporary styling, spacious accommodations and good sailing performance. " Sound Advice" has new Z sails, halyards and sheet lines, a Harken Electric 40.2ST electric winch to make cruising or a race around the buoys a dream. The O'Day 35 is one of the more successful cruising designs by C. Raymond Hunt & Associates constructed with solid fiberglass hull and light weight cored decks for years of sailing enjoyment. Other upgrades include a Maxwell windlass, extensive maintenance to the Universal M25 Diesel motor, new cutlass bearing, thru-hull replacements and bottom preparation. The cockpit is nicely laid out with an Edson steering pedestal quadrant the contains a Ritchie binnacle mount compass, a custom chart plotter mount. There are custom rear perch seats, a dodger and Bimini top with enclosure. "Sound Advice" is ready to go cruising so take advantage of being out on the Sound this fall.

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Shoal Keel Sailboats Advantages and Disadvantages

Sep 13, 2021

less than a min

Shoal keel sailboats are boats with less draft compared to the same model with a higher keel. The term shoal keel does not define a certain length of the keel rather than just differentiate one model from another. By reading the term shoal keel on a boat, you are meant to understand that a version with a normal keel is also available and that the particular model you are looking at can be used in shallower waters than the other one. 

Most shoal keel sailboats are used in ocean voyages near the coastline where the water is shallower. They can be used for fishing or recreational activities. 

Advantages of shoal keel sailboats

The most important advantage of a shoal keel sailboat is its ability to navigate shallow water without hitting the ground and without damaging the keel. As such, these boats are great for exploring caves and other touristic sights that other boats cannot access. 

In addition, shoal keel sailboats are great for lagoons and other shallow bodies of water. They offer the same interior space as boats with a normal keel, but are better equipped for sailing in shallow waters without risking damage to the keel, the lower part of the hull, or the entire structure of the boat. 

Disadvantages of shoal keel sailboats

Every boat has its own advantages and disadvantages, and so do shoal keel sailboats . 

Similar to flat bottom hull boats, shoal keel sailboats are not too stable and might have an increased risk of capsizing when the water is too rough. In addition, it has a different righting moment which makes it harder to navigate and maintain static stability. As a result, shoal keel sailboats are not as comfortable to sail. They are more appropriate for shorter sails rather than longer navigations. One of the most common side effects of a shoal keel sailboat trip is seasickness. 

You can find different shoal keel sailboats on TheBoatDB database and have a better look at each model to explore specific features and details such as manufacturer, price, pictures, displacement, size, and more. The carefully put-together platform also allows you to compare different shoal keel sailboats side by side, or even normal keel and shoal keel versions of the same sailboat. This is particularly important if you are in the market for a boat or are looking to rent one. You can base your decision on data that you can assess for yourself. 

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O'Day 35 Shoal Draft

The O'Day 35 offers contemporary styling, spacious accommodations and good sailing performance. " Sound Advice" has new Z sails, halyards and sheet lines, a Harken Electric 40.2ST electric winch to make cruising or a race around the buoys a dream. The O'Day 35 is one of the more successful cruising designs by C. Raymond Hunt & Associates constructed with solid fiberglass hull and light weight cored decks for years of sailing enjoyment. Other upgrades include a Maxwell windlass, extensive maintenance to the Universal M25 Diesel motor, new cutlass bearing, thru-hull replacements and bottom preparation.

The cockpit is nicely laid out with an Edson steering pedestal quadrant the contains a Ritchie binnacle mount compass, a custom chart plotter mount. There are custom rear perch seats, a dodger and Bimini top with enclosure. "Sound Advice" is ready to go cruising so take advantage of being out on the Sound this fall.

• Main Z sail (2024)
• Headsail (135% Genoa) Z sail (2024)
• Neil Pryde Main Sail (1985) in fair condition
• Kappa Headsail (135% Genoa) (2006) in good condtion
• Neil Pryde Cruising Sponnaker (1985) in very good condition
• Selden Furlex 330 S roller furling
• Harken 40ST electric winch
• (2) Barlow 25 winches
• (1) Barlow 24 winch
• New lines (2024) for Genoa lead control lines, boom vang control lines ( 8 to 1 purchase), cunningham lines
• New lines (2024) out haul, topping lift, lazy jacks,
• Harken mainsheet and roller furling blocks
• Garmin EchoMap 94sv Chart Plotter
• Raytheon RL 72 Pathfinder Radar
• RayMarine ST60 wind instruments
• RayMarine ST60 Speed instruments & knotmeter
• RayMarine ST60 Depth Sounder
• Standard Horizon Quantum GX2360S VHF Radio
• Standard Horizon RAM 3 microphone ( in cockpit)
• RayMarine ST60001 + w/GyroPlus Autopilot (below deck)
• RayMarine Raystar RS125 GPS Receiver (interfaced to the RayMarine instruments)
• 2 Group 24 Deep Cycle Batteries (2023)
• 1 Group 24 starting Battery
• Heart Interface Model 20 Inverter/charger
• Link 200 R Monitor
• Balmar high output alternator
• 30 AMP shore power inlet
• AC and DC Panels with breakers
• Propane 2 burner stove
• Adler Barbour refrigeration
• Magma grill
• SS sink with pressurized water system
• Universal M25 3 cylinder FWC Diesel motor (21 HP)
• Hurth HBW-50 reduction gear
• 2 blade bronze prop
• Water lift muffler

O'Day 35 Shoal Draft 35 Shoal Draft

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Types Of Shoal Draft Boat & The Benefits Of A Shoal Keel

The draft of a boat determines the depth of water that the boat can be used in. You may be aware of a shallow draft boat, that is  used to navigate very shallow waters, and a deep draft boat, that can be used in the ocean and deep turbulent waters.

What Is A Shoal Draft Boat?

Why a boat can benefit from a shoal draft keel, 1. shoal draft yachts, 2. shoal draft sailboats, 3. shoal draft catamarans.

• Summary: What A Shoal Draft Boat Is & Its Main Uses

A shoal draft boat is one which has a shallower draft than other boats of comparable size.

For example, a sailboat, which usually has a full length keel, may be said to have a shoal draft if it is fitted with a shorter keel.

A shoal draft boat can be used to navigate waters that are too shallow for a similar sized deep draft boat.

Thus a shoal draft boat can be used closer to shore and near shoals.

Boats that usually need a shoal draft are ones that are used to sail through both shallow and deep bodies of water.

These boats are usually sailboats, catamarans, and yachts.

Shoal draft is usually used to refer to the draft of sailboat that is capable of being used in the ocean and in shallow areas near the shore or close to shoals. Shoal draft is achieved through the use of a shorter keel, sometimes called a shoal draft keel or simply a shoal keel .

Having a shoal draft allows a sailboat to navigate through fairly shallow bodies of water, such as near shoals or close to the shoreline, as well as giving it the ability to remain fairly safe when out in deep open waters.

Mariners who regularly use their boats to navigate shallow water areas or areas with submerged banks benefit the most from a shoal draft boat.

Boats with shoal drafts give the mariner the ability to traverse shallower waters without running the risk of damaging the boat’s keel and/or grounding the boat.

Three Common Types Of Shoal Draft Boats

Below are the three most common types of boat that have can have a shoal draft:

• Catamarans.

Yachts are normally used for cruising, racing, and recreational purposes. This is a type of boat is known for being a luxurious cruiser that is used in fairly local waters.

There are two types of yachts:

• Sailing yachts.
• Motor-powered yachts.

Many yachts will have a shoal draft because they are so often used near shorelines.

Many manufacturers offer the option of a full length keel, for those yacht owners who like long-haul ocean excursions and would benefit from having a deep draft vessel.

But, they also offer a shorter “shoal keel”, in order to give the boat a shoal draft, to those mariners who like to cruise around gulfs, shoals and shorelines and other shallow areas of open water.

Sailing yachts have two more sub-classes which are:

• Racing sailing yachts.
• Cruising sailing yachts.

The main difference between the two above mentioned yachts is that the first favors better performance over comfort and the second is more focused on comfort rather than performance.

These types of yachts are oftentimes fitted with shorter keels so the boat has a shoal draft.

A motorized yacht can also be fitted with a shorter keel so the boat has a shoal draft for the same reasons a sailing yacht would need one.

The most common type of shoal draft keels are bilge keels, fin keels, and lifting keels.

3 examples of shoal draft sailing yachts with bilge keels are:

• Hunter Duette.

3 examples of shoal draft sailing yachts with lifting keels are:

• Feeling 326
• Super Seal 26.

3 examples of shoal draft sailing yachts with fin keels are:

• Bavaria 40.
• Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 36.2.

Sailboats are usually small sized boats that use wind power.

Not as luxurious as yachts, sailboats are often working boats used or fishing though they are commonly used for racing and recreational activities as well.

Sailboats are usually equipped with a shoal draft keel because it makes it easier to navigate the boat through shallower waters.

Giving a sailboat a shoal draft allows the boat to be more versatile in the water and opens up much more areas to the mariner.

Having a shoal draft on a sailboat gives the advantage of creating minimal dredging in shallow waters.

This capacity to navigate shallow waters is useful but not so much so that it comes at the expense of being able to the ability to traverse safely through an ocean.

Shoal draft boats cannot access the same type of very shallow water as a flat bottom or shallow draft boat .

There is a lot of variety and many different models to choose from when looking for a sailboat with a shoal draft.

Examples of shoal draft sailboats:

• Morgan 28-1.

These are in fact two of the cheapest shoal draft sailboats on the market currently, both of which have a draft of 3 feet and cost around $15,000 apiece.

A shoal draft catamaran is designed with two hulls.

This unique design results in a boat that has much more stability and balance over a traditional single hulled vessel.

The first catamarans were constructed of two logs lashed together like a sort of small makeshift raft , and later two canoes were lashed together to form the same type of vessel.

This type of primitive catamaran was originally designed as a fishing vessel and fashioned in a double-hull manner for extra stability on the water but over time their purpose has expanded.

Nowadays, you can see catamarans being used as ferry boats, as well as for recreational offshore and ocean-going sailing.

A cruising catamaran usually has a draft of less than 3 feet which allows it access to areas that are not usually accessible to traditional monohull boats.

Unlike other shoal draft boats, that have a shorter than normal keel (a shoal keel), a catamaran has no keel at all.

Some examples of cruising catamarans with a shoal draft are:

• Seawind 1160.
• Seawind 1260.

Although catamarans are considered to be ocean-going vessels the lack of a keel means that in very rough seas and very bad weather conditions, a catamaran may not fare well as a boat with a keel.

Summary:  What A Shoal Draft Boat Is & Its Main Uses

In most cases shoal draft boats are boats that have a shoal keel that is slightly shorter than the standard keel of a similar sized boat.

This feature allows the shoal draft boat to navigate both fairly shallow water and deep choppy water.

Although a shoal draft boat is not capable of navigating the type of inland shallow waters that a flat bottom boat can, like a Jon boat for example, it does have the ability to navigate shallower areas than a deep draft boat can.

This is an advantage for people who want the capability of navigating through shallower parts of the water such as near shorelines, shoals or submerged banks but who do not want lose their ability to navigate ocean waters.

Usually the type of boats that have a shoal draft are sailboats, catamarans and yachts.

Yachts are usually used for cruising and recreational purposes near shorelines and thus need a shallower draft than ocean-going vessels of a similar size.

A sailing yacht. although capable of long-haul journeys, is a boat that is also usually used near shorelines or not that far out to sea.

These yachts therefore also benefit from having a shoal draft for the same reasons their motorized cousins do.

Shoal draft yachts usually have either fin keels, bilge keels, wing keels, or lifting keels. We covered these keel types in more detail in the article what is shoal draft .

Another type of a shoal draft boat is the sailboat.

Sailboats are usually used for racing, recreational cruising or as a working fishing boat.

A lot of people who own sailboats opt for a boat with a shoal boat because it offers a wider variety of water bodies to navigate and can be used close to the shoreline.

Catamarans are a type of sailboat that have no keel at all.

Due to the lack of keel, and fairly flat bottom hull which allows a catamaran to navigate shallow waters, it is said to be a shoal draft boat.

The two hull design of a catamaran gives the boat a lot of stability in the water and with a draft that is less than 3 feet, it is ideal for shallower open water areas.

A downside to a catamaran’s shoal draft is that it not as stable in very turbulent waters when far out to sea.

Mick McGrath

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What is the Best Keel for A Shoal Draft Boat?

The popularity of our recent discussion of shoal draft boats prompted a dive into the archives on related topics, and we were delighted to see the name Warwick Collins pop up. Collins, the inventor of the tandem or “Collins keel,” died in 2013, but his name frequently appears up in boat design forums today. For those unfamiliar with Collins, he was typical of the eccentric personalities who often rise to the top in the field of sailboat design—a creative genius whose talents spread into a wide range of forums. In Collins case, the pursuits included poet, novelist, evolutionary biologist, and naval architect. And of course, inventor of the Collins keel—a design which incorporated two efficient foils joined by a ballasted foot. Do a Google image search for “Collins keel,” and you’ll see several variations .

The fact that this PS Advisor Q&A from more than three decades ago ( PS January 1989) is just as salient today as it was then (the tandem’s close relative, the canard keel is a fundamental aspect of can’ting keel racing designs today) illustrates how innovation in foil and hull forms still relies as much on the imagination of creative geniuses like Collins as  it does on computer algorithms.

One shallow-draft keel form that this article doesn’t mention is the bilge keel, which is seeing a bit of a resurgence today. Also missing is the ancient leeboard design. If you are the proud owner of a bilge-keeler or leeboard boat, we’d be interested in hearing from you in the comments below, or e-mailing us at [email protected] .

Here’s the original excerpt from PS Advisor January 1989, featuring a question from a reader in Tampa, FL, where shoal draft can greatly expand cruising grounds:

I read your comments on the shoal draft tandem or canard keel by the Englishman Warwick Collins. While you praised the keel, you really didn’t answer the main question for those of us who are looking for a new boat with shoal draft.

Which is the preferred keel for shoal draft? Wing? Scheel? Collins? Centerboard? The old-fashioned long, shallow keel?

Part of it depends on the hull. You can’t just stick any keel onto any hull-there has to be a marriage between the two. The long shoal keel, for example, would be a disaster as a replacement for the fin on a typical modem flat-bottom hull, and the fin a disaster on the deeper, round-bottom hull. So the following comments assume that there’s a satisfactory union between hull and keel. Practical Sailor published an in-depth report on keel-hull connections in the wake of recent failures.

We think the Collins or canard keel looks promising, but we’d have to say it is still not adequately proven. It probably does offer better performance than a conventional keel of the same depth, but it’s not clear that its performance is superior to the other shoal-draft options. There’s also a bit of structural concern with the keel, in that it just about has to be made of iron or steel to have sufficient strength. Wing keels have some of the same problem, but a lead version of the Collins keel could probably deform badly in a hard grounding.

We remain skeptical of the wing keel. While a well-designed one can perform comparably to other shoal-draft keels, we see many wings that are questionable. We walked through the New York Boat Show in 1989 with a naval architect who had designed wing keels for the America’s Cup boats, and his judgment was that every wing at the show was poorly done—sometimes appearing less efficient than a wingless keel of the same depth. In addition, of course, you always have the potential problem of snagging lobster pots or kelp, especially with wing keels that have reverse slope front edges (which they apparently need to be truly efficient).

The Scheel keel is pretty well proven by this time. We think it’s a better bet than the wing, if you have that choice, and overall a good moderate design for shallow-draft cruising. Performance isn’t bad-in racing, both PHRF and IMS show that the Scheel keel is about 5 to 12 seconds per mile slower than a deeper fin on otherwise identical boats.

However, we think the best bet is the modern keel/centerboard. Unlike centerboards of 20 years ago, the new ones are very efficient going to windward with the boards down and not all that bad with the boards partially raised or withdrawn into a stub keel.

For the two boats we’ve recently sailed on-a C&C and a Sabre—our impression was that even with the board retracted the boats sailed about as well as comparable wing-keelers or Scheel keel boats. Maintenance, especially keeping barnacles and weeds out of the inside of the centerboard case, is a problem, and the tackle to raise and lower the board is a minor complication in rigging.

But otherwise they seem best—good performance with shallow draft, and excellent performance when you drop the board fully. For people who like getting into the nitty gritty of foil design, designer Eric Sponberg produced an informative analysis a while back. Ralph Naranjo also reflected on keel preferences in his in-depth report on keel design .

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

On watch: this 60-year-old hinckley pilot 35 is also a working girl, 12 comments.

The Horizon Cat design by Com-Pac was a good answer to Florida west coast cruising with all the shoal waters. The stub keel provided ballast and together with a small amount of the bilge, provided the centerboard housing without intruding into the living space. The board is long enough for good lateral resistance and provides easy management with a pennant towards the tip led to a clamshell cleat on the cockpit sole. I have been exceptionally happy with the combination (and the early heads up when I wander into shallow water!).

The keel/centerboard on Little Harbors(Ted Hood Sr)—I had a 38 footer for 14 years–was phenomenal. Go to weather?? Like a bullet. Did 4 Regatta D-Amigos races with her(Galveston /Vera Cruz), 620 NM , hard to weather most of the way into strong S/SE winds . She was in Trophy range in each race. Would have a larger one today except they quit making them and the larger ones were/are very expensive.

I sail an 87 Sabre 42 CB. i love the keel…we can point with newer boats with a deep keel such as a 2003 SunFast 37 with the board down, but only draw 5′ with the board up. Yes there are negative aspects, such as the maintenance issues involved, but for us, the benefits have outweighed the negatives.

Everything is a trade off….Is there the best all around design?

I’m a twin-keel sailor in Southern Florida. I’ve owned and sailed four, a Vivacity 20, a Westerly 25 and a pair of Westerly Pageants (23′). I’m based in Sarasota, on the west coast where the Gulf waters are warm and blue, but the estuarine waters are brown and shallow.

Advantages: Stiff: With a roughly 40% ballast ratio, the boats are stiff and can handle real wind without extreme heel. Shallow draft: The Vivacity drew 2 feet, and the Pageant is 2’10”. And both can be run aground without fear. This makes gunk holing an adventure instead of a peril. And no underwater parts to break or shear. Maintenance: pull up on a scenic sandbar and scrape the bottom, a fun summertime enterprise. Just don’t forget to figure out the tides. Stability: one of the Pageants had a vane-only self steering device, with no pendulum or aux rudder in the water. It once made the 48 hour trip from Sarasota’s New Pass to the Dry Tortugas entirely on the vane. A sheet-to-tiller system is almost as reliable, although with more variation due to “system” lag. Volume: by their nature, twin-keep designs are beamier than similar-sized single-keel designs. This provides separation for the keels. Thus interior space is larger, with more storage bins etc. Strength: most twin-keel boats are British, and are built for use in areas with large tidal ranges. Slips must accommodate serious water level changes, and are expensive to rent. Many twin-keelers regularly “take the bottom” on their moorings, day after day after day, with all the associated pounding. Dry: all four of my boats had bilge spaces so dry I could store postage stamps there. Finding water in the bilge was a rare event, usually due to leaving a port or hatch open in a rain. With a dry bilge, mildew was held at bay if you had some through-cabin ventilation. Posture: sits upright when in the boatyard; no jack stands required. Much better stability on a trailer (use a flatbed if you want).

Disadvantages: Speed: more wetted area, so slower. Over the very long haul, I average about 3 knots for planning purposes. Mind you LWL is about 17 feet. Pointing: doesn’t sail well at the “edge” going to windward. Performs best about 50-55 degrees of the wind. Barnacles: with more underwater surface, more opportunity for barnacles to grow. Racing potential: last place every time.

For family sailing and cruising, we’ve found bilge keelers to be an obvious choice for southwest Florida. They are blue-water capable, but shine in shallow waters. Roomy, airy, comfy. All boats are compromises, and sailors should be serious about what they want to accomplish. My Pageants were designed to take a family of four across the English Channel for a visit to France. While France is a long way from Sarasota, they continue to be seaworthy and sea-kindly cruisers.

Now that is a proper review of a bilge keel, all the main pros and cons broken down, easy to understand and broken down into easy to visualise information. Thanks

Very helpful as I’m looking to trade a Hunter 27 for a twin-keeled boat… Thank you!

What about the swing keel on Southerly boats? Not sure if they fall into the shoal draft category but I find the capabilities of these boats particularly intriguing!

I have had two excellent experiences with low draft boats. The first in a southerly 115, about 35 ft, design Dick Carter. A cast iron slab on the bottom of the boat with two prominent chines could take easily with a shallow draft of 3 ft and then perform even better with a retractable quarter round fin operated by a simple tackle inside the boat. Loved it and loved the downwind reduced resistance that could be measured in almost 1 knot. The second experience was the shallow draft of a 24 ft trimaran ( Farrier 720 trailer tri). This stuck me with multihulls, not because of the speed, but for the ability to navigate shallow waters and hop onto a beach without a dinghy. Unbeatable.

TANZER 7.5 is the best 25′ boat that ever crossed the ATLANTIC with a Shoal Keel? Is this true?

https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/tanzer-75

I am a yacht designer specializing in shoal-draft cruising sailboats. My designs are all over the world, in the hundreds. These include small craft like sharpies, Sea Bright skiffs and skipjacks, as well as large cruisers up to 75-feet. Most of these are true traditional-looking centerboard designs with long, traditional drag keels, but some have keel-centerboard configurations. I write about yacht design and construction for WoodenBoat Magazine and Professional Boatbuilder Magazine. I have three books in print about boat design, construction, history and cruising. I live aboard a 53-foot ketch with a draft of 3-feet board up, and 7′ 6″ board down. She is an excellent gunkholer as well as a proven offshore sailor.

What is a drag keel? “”A keel centreboard configuration ” means stub keel with centreboard or perhaps a drop/lifting keel that doesn’t swing?

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National Integrated Drought Information System

counties with USDA Drought Disaster Designations (primary)

California residents in areas of drought, according to the Drought Monitor

driest July on record (since 1895)

wettest January—July on record (since 1895)

The U.S. Drought Monitor depicts the location and intensity of drought across the country. The map uses 5 classifications: Abnormally Dry (D0), showing areas that may be going into or are coming out of drought, and four levels of drought (D1–D4).

This map is used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to trigger some disaster declarations and loan eligibility. Individual states and water supply planning may use additional information to inform their declarations and actions. Learn more .

How has drought impacted this state in the past? View examples of past drought impacts  or explore historical Drought Monitor maps .

The U.S. Drought Monitor 1-week change map shows where drought has improved, remained the same, or worsened since the previous week's Drought Monitor. 

The U.S. Drought Monitor depicts the location and intensity of drought across the country, using 5 classifications (D0–D4). Green hues indicate conditions improved, while yellow/orange hues indicate degradations.

The Multi-Indicator Drought Index (MIDI) looks at current drought conditions across the U.S. by integrating several key drought indices on precipitation and moisture into one objective, computer-generated map. 

The Short-Term MIDI approximates  drought impacts from changes in precipitation and moisture  over a short-term timeframe (looking back up to 90 days), such as impacts to non-irrigated agriculture, topsoil moisture, and range and pasture conditions.  Long-term droughts  (lasting months to years) can have different impacts.

This experimental map is based on methodology from the NOAA National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center. Learn  how this map is made .

The Long-Term MIDI approximates  drought impacts from changes in precipitation and moisture  over a long-term timeframe (up to 5 years), such as impacts to irrigated agriculture, groundwater, and reservoir levels.  Long-term drought  conditions can also increase wildfire intensity and severity.

A  drought index  combines multiple drought indicators (e.g., precipitation, temperature, soil moisture) to depict drought conditions. For some products, like the U.S. Drought Monitor, authors combine their analysis of drought indicators with input from local observers. Other drought indices, like the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), use an objective calculation to describe the severity, location, timing, and/or duration of drought. 

Periods of drought can lead to inadequate  water supply , threatening the health, safety, and welfare of communities. Streamflow, groundwater, reservoir, and snowpack data are key to monitoring and forecasting water supply.

Drought can reduce the water availability and water quality necessary for productive farms, ranches, and grazing lands, resulting in significant negative direct and indirect economic impacts to the agricultural sector. Monitoring  agricultural drought typically focuses on examining levels of precipitation, evaporative demand, soil moisture, and surface/groundwater quantity and quality.

Drought is defined as the lack of precipitation over an extended period of time, usually for a season or more, that results in a water shortage. Changes in precipitation can substantially disrupt crops and livestock, influence the frequency and intensity of severe weather events, and affect the quality and quantity of water available for municipal and industrial use.

Drought & Dryness Categories

Abnormally dry.

Abnormally Dry (D0) indicates a region that is going into or coming out of drought.  View typical impacts by state , or learn how California contributes to the U.S. Drought Monitor .

Moderate Drought

Moderate Drought (D1) is the first of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.  View typical impacts by state , or learn how California contributes to the U.S. Drought Monitor .

Severe Drought

Severe Drought (D2) is the second of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.  View typical impacts by state , or learn how California contributes to the U.S. Drought Monitor .

Extreme Drought

Extreme Drought (D3) is the third of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.  View typical impacts by state , or learn how California contributes to the U.S. Drought Monitor .

Exceptional Drought

Exceptional Drought (D4) is the most intense drought category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.  View typical impacts by state , or learn how California contributes to the U.S. Drought Monitor .

Total Area in Drought (D1–D4)

Percent area of California that is currently in drought (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Learn how California contributes to the U.S. Drought Monitor .

Drought Change Since Last Week

3-category degradation.

Drought/dryness has worsened by 3 categories, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

2-Category Degradation

Drought/dryness has worsened by 2 categories, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

1-Category Degradation

Drought/dryness has worsened by 1 category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

There has been no change in drought conditions at this location.

1-Category Improvement

Drought/dryness has improved by 1 category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

2-Category Improvement

Drought/dryness has improved by 2 categories, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

3-Category Improvement

Drought/dryness has improved by 3 categories, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Dry Conditions

D4: exceptional drought.

This map integrates multiple drought indices measuring precipitation and moisture into one computer-generated drought map, with a reference period of 1979–present. According to these indices, current conditions are drier than 98% to 100% of past conditions.  Learn more about these categories .

D3: Extreme Drought

This map integrates multiple drought indices measuring precipitation and moisture into one computer-generated drought map, with a reference period of 1979–present. According to these indices, current conditions are drier than 95% to 98% of past conditions.  Learn more about these categories .

D2: Severe Drought

This map integrates multiple drought indices measuring precipitation and moisture into one computer-generated drought map, with a reference period of 1979–present. According to these indices, current conditions are drier than 90% to 95% of past conditions.  Learn more about these categories .

D1: Moderate Drought

This map integrates multiple drought indices measuring precipitation and moisture into one computer-generated drought map, with a reference period of 1979–present. According to these indices, current conditions are drier than 80% to 90% of past conditions.  Learn more about these categories .

D0: Abnormally Dry

This map integrates multiple drought indices measuring precipitation and moisture into one computer-generated drought map, with a reference period of 1979–present. According to these indices, current conditions are drier than 70% to 80% of past conditions.  Learn more about these categories .

Wet Conditions

W0: abnormally wet.

This map integrates multiple drought indices measuring precipitation and moisture into one computer-generated drought map, with a reference period of 1979–present. According to these indices, current conditions are wetter than 70% to 80% of past conditions.  Learn more about these categories .

W1: Moderate Wet

This map integrates multiple drought indices measuring precipitation and moisture into one computer-generated drought map, with a reference period of 1979–present. According to these indices, current conditions are wetter than 80% to 90% of past conditions.  Learn more about these categories .

W2: Severe Wet

This map integrates multiple drought indices measuring precipitation and moisture into one computer-generated drought map, with a reference period of 1979–present. According to these indices, current conditions are wetter than 90% to 95% of past conditions.  Learn more about these categories .

W3: Extreme Wet

This map integrates multiple drought indices measuring precipitation and moisture into one computer-generated drought map, with a reference period of 1979–present. According to these indices, current conditions are wetter than 95% to 98% of past conditions.  Learn more about these categories .

W4: Exceptional Wet

This map integrates multiple drought indices measuring precipitation and moisture into one computer-generated drought map, with a reference period of 1979–present. According to these indices, current conditions are wetter than 98% to 100% of past conditions.  Learn more about these categories .

This map is released every Thursday morning, with data valid through Tuesday at 7am Eastern.

U.S. Drought Monitor change maps are released every Thursday morning, with data valid through Tuesday at 7 am Eastern.

The drought indices used in this map are based on the GridMET dataset and use a reference period of 1979–present. This map is updated every 5 days, with a delay of 4 to 5 days to allow for data collection and quality control.

Drought in the California–Nevada Region

Drought in California and Nevada is a common occurrence that can last for multiple years. The regional climate is characterized by a distinct dry season (approximately May to September) and wet season (approximately October to April) defined by a few large precipitation events, though additional peaks in precipitation can occur. Topography within the region creates a diverse set of climate conditions, from the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada Range to the Mojave Desert, to the mountains and valleys of the Basin and Range. Given the extreme variability, both spatially and temporally, efficiently using and effectively managing finite water resources is a high priority. To support drought early warning capacity and resilience to drought events in both California and Nevada, NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) launched the California-Nevada Drought Early Warning System (DEWS). The California-Nevada DEWS is a network of regional and national partners that share information and coordinate actions to help communities in the region prepare for and cope with drought Reach out to Amanda Sheffield , the Regional Drought Coordinator for this region, for more information, or sign up for the California-Nevada DEWS newsletter.

California State Drought Resources

State Drought Websites: California Water Watch California Data Exchange Center

State Drought Agency:  

California Department of Water Resources

State Water Plan:

California Water Plan

State Climate Office: 

California State Climatologist

California Current Conditions

A number of physical indicators are important for monitoring drought, such as precipitation & temperature, water supply (e.g., streamflow, reservoirs), and soil moisture. Learn more about monitoring drought .

California Precipitation Conditions

Inches of precipitation.

This location received less than 0.01 inch of precipitation during this 7-day period.

This location received  0.01–0.5 inch of precipitation during this 7-day period.

This location received  0.5–1 inch of precipitation during this 7-day period.

This location received  1–2 inches of precipitation during this 7-day period.

This location received  2–4 inches of precipitation during this 7-day period.

This location received  4–6 inches of precipitation during this 7-day period.

This location received  6–8 inches of precipitation during this 7-day period.

This location received  more than 8 inches of precipitation during this 7-day period.

Percent of Normal Precipitation (%)

<25% of normal.

Precipitation was only 0% to 25% of the historical average for this location, compared to the same date range from 1991–2020. 

25%–50% of Normal

Precipitation was 25% to 50% of the historical average for this location, compared to the same date range from 1991–2020. 

50%–75% of Normal

Precipitation was 50% to 75% of the historical average for this location, compared to the same date range from 1991–2020. 

75%–100% of Normal

Precipitation was 75% to 100% of the historical average for this location, compared to the same date range from 1991–2020. 

100%–150% of Normal

Precipitation was 100% to 150% of the historical average for this location, compared to the same date range from 1991–2020. 

150%–200% of Normal

Precipitation was 150% to 200% of the historical average for this location, compared to the same date range from 1991–2020. 

200%–300% of Normal

Precipitation was 200% to 300% of the historical average for this location, compared to the same date range from 1991–2020. 

>300% of Normal

Precipitation was greater than 300% of the historical average for this location, compared to the same date range from 1991–2020. 

This map shows total precipitation (in inches) for the past 7 days. Dark blue shades indicate the highest precipitation amounts.

This map shows precipitation for the past 30 days as a percentage of the historical average (1991–2020) for the same time period. Green/blue shades indicate above-normal precipitation, while brown shades indicate below-normal precipitation. 

This map shows precipitation for the past 60 days as a percentage of the historical average (1991–2020) for the same time period. Green/blue shades indicate above-normal precipitation, while brown shades indicate below-normal precipitation. 

Precipitation data are updated daily, with a delay of 3 to 4 days to allow for data collection and quality control.

California Temperature Conditions

Maximum temperature (°f).

The 7-day average daily maximum temperature is below 0°F .

The 7-day average daily maximum temperature is between  0–10°F .

The 7-day average daily maximum temperature is between  1 0–20°F .

The 7-day average daily maximum temperature is between  2 0–30°F .

The 7-day average daily maximum temperature is between  3 0–40°F .

The 7-day average daily maximum temperature is between  4 0–60°F .

The 7-day average daily maximum temperature is between  6 0 –70°F .

The 7-day average daily maximum temperature is between  7 0 –80°F .

The 7-day average daily maximum temperature is between  8 0 –90°F .

The 7-day average daily maximum temperature is between  9 0 –100°F .

The 7-day average daily maximum temperature is between  greater than  1 00°F .

Departure from Normal Max Temperature (°F)

>8°f below normal.

The average maximum temperature was more than 8°F colder than normal for this location.

6–8°F Below Normal

The average maximum temperature was  6–8°F colder than normal for this location.

4–6°F Below Normal

The average maximum temperature was  4–6°F colder than normal for this location.

3–4°F Below Normal

The average maximum temperature was  3–4°F colder than normal for this location.

1–3°F Below Normal

The average maximum temperature was  1–3°F colder than normal for this location.

0–1°F Below Normal

The average maximum temperature was  0–1°F colder than normal for this location.

0–1°F Above Normal

The average maximum temperature was  0–1°F warmer than normal for this location.

1–3°F Above Normal

The average maximum temperature was  1–3°F warmer than normal for this location.

3–4°F Above Normal

The average maximum temperature was  3–4°F warmer than normal for this location.

4–6°F Above Normal

The average maximum temperature was  4–6°F warmer than normal for this location.

6–8°F Above Normal

The average maximum temperature was  6–8°F warmer than normal for this location.

>8°F Above Normal

The average maximum temperature was  more than 8°F warmer than normal for this location.

This map shows the average maximum daily temperature (°F) for the last 7 days. Blue hues indicate cooler temperatures, while red hues indicate warmer temperatures.

This map shows the average maximum daily temperature for the past 7 days compared to the historical average (1991–2020) for the same 7 days. Negative values ( blue hues ) indicate colder than normal temperatures, and positive values ( red hues ) indicate warmer than normal temperatures.

This map shows the average maximum daily temperature for the past 30 days compared to the historical average (1991–2020) for the same 30 days. Negative values ( blue hues ) indicate colder than normal temperatures, and positive values ( red hues ) indicate warmer than normal temperatures.

Temperature data are updated daily, with a delay of 3 to 4 days to allow for data collection and quality control.

Air  temperature can have wide-ranging effects on natural processes. Warmer air temperatures increase evapotranspiration—which is the combination of evaporation from the soil and bodies of water and transpiration from plants—and lower soil moisture.

California Streamflow Conditions

Streamflow conditions.

Estimated streamflow is the lowest value recorded at this gauge on this day of the year.  Learn more .

Much Below Normal (<10th Percentile)

Estimated streamflow is in the 0–10th percentile of historical streamflow values recorded at this gauge on this day of the year.  Learn more .

Below Normal (10th–25th Percentile)

Estimated streamflow is in the 10th–25th percentile of historical streamflow values recorded at this gauge on this day of the year.  Learn more .

Normal (25th–75th Percentile)

Estimated streamflow is in the 25th–75th percentile of historical streamflow values recorded at this gauge on this day of the year.  Learn more .

Above Normal (75th–90th Percentile)

Estimated streamflow is in the 75th–90th percentile of historical streamflow values recorded at this gauge on this day of the year.  Learn more .

Much Above Normal (>90th Percentile)

Estimated streamflow is in the 90th–100th percentile of historical streamflow values recorded at this gauge on this day of the year.  Learn more .

Record High

Estimated streamflow is the highest value ever measured at this gauge on this day of the year.  Learn more .

A flow category has not been computed for this gauge, for example due to insufficient historical data or no current streamflow estimates.

This map shows current streamflow conditions compared to historical conditions for the same day of the year. Click on a streamgage to view current data from the U.S. Geological Survey.

This map shows streamflow conditions averaged over the last 7 days, compared to historical conditions for the same time period. Click on a streamgage to view current data from the U.S. Geological Survey.

This map shows streamflow conditions averaged over the last 28 days, compared to historical conditions for the same time period. Click on a streamgage to view current data from the U.S. Geological Survey.

This map updates daily on Drought.gov. View the most recent real-time streamflow data via USGS .

Drought can alter the ecological balance of natural systems and harm fish, wildlife, and plant species, as well as the benefits that these ecosystems provide to human communities. The environmental consequences of drought include losses in plant growth; increases in fire and insect outbreaks; altered rates of carbon, nutrient, and water cycling; and local species extinctions.

Because energy and water are so interdependent, the availability and predictability of water resources can directly affect energy systems. Energy professionals need information on current drought conditions and outlooks in order to make informed decisions on cooling, alternative water supplies, pricing, and infrastructure security.

During drought conditions that result in low water levels on rivers and other waterways, port and maritime  navigation and transportation operations may be limited due to a reduction in available routes and cargo-carrying capacity, resulting in increased costs. In addition, higher temperatures that often coexist with drought can impact roads, airport runways, and rail lines.

California Soil Moisture Conditions

20 cm soil moisture percentile, 0–2nd percentile.

Soil moisture at 20cm depth is in the bottom 2% (0–2nd percentile) of historical measurements for this day of the year. 

2nd–5th Percentile

Soil moisture at 20cm depth falls between the 2nd to 5th percentile of historical measurements for this day of the year.

5th–10th Percentile

Soil moisture at 20cm depth falls between the 5th to 10th percentile of historical measurements for this day of the year. 

10th–20th Percentile

Soil moisture at 20cm depth falls between the 10th to 20th percentile of historical measurements for this day of the year.

20th–30th Percentile

Soil moisture at 20cm depth falls between the 20th to 30th percentile of historical measurements for this day of the year.

30th–70th Percentile

Soil moisture at 20cm depth falls between the 30th to 70th percentile of historical measurements for this day of the year.

70th–80th Percentile

Soil moisture at 20cm depth falls between the 70th to 80th percentile of historical measurements for this day of the year. 

80th–90th Percentile

Soil moisture at 20cm depth falls between the 80th to 90th percentile of historical measurements for this day of the year.

90th–95th Percentile

Soil moisture at 20cm depth falls between the 90th to 95th percentile of historical measurements for this day of the year. 

95th–98th Percentile

Soil moisture at 20cm depth falls between the 95th to 98th percentile of historical measurements for this day of the year. 

98th–100th Percentile

Soil moisture at 20cm depth is in the top 2% ( 98th to 100th percentile) of historical measurements for this day of the year. 

0–100 cm Soil Moisture Percentile

Soil moisture at 0–100cm depth is in the bottom 2% (0–2nd percentile) of historical measurements for this day of the year. Learn more .

Soil moisture at 0–100cm depth falls between the 2nd to 5th percentile of historical measurements for this day of the year. Learn more .

Soil moisture at 0–100cm depth falls between the 5th to 10th percentile of historical measurements for this day of the year. Learn more .

Soil moisture at 0–100cm depth falls between the 10th to 20th percentile of historical measurements for this day of the year. Learn more .

Soil moisture at 0–100cm depth falls between the 20th to 30th percentile of historical measurements for this day of the year. Learn more .

Soil moisture at 0–100cm depth falls between the 30th to 70th percentile of historical measurements for this day of the year. Learn more .

Soil moisture at 0–100cm depth falls between the 70th to 80th percentile of historical measurements for this day of the year. Learn more .

Soil moisture at 0–100cm depth falls between the 80th to 90th percentile of historical measurements for this day of the year. Learn more .

Soil moisture at 0–100cm depth falls between the 90th to 95th percentile of historical measurements for this day of the year. Learn more .

Soil moisture at 0–100cm depth falls between the 95th to 98th percentile of historical measurements for this day of the year. Learn more .

Soil moisture at 0–100cm depth is in the top 2% ( 98th to 100th percentile) of historical measurements for this day of the year. Learn more .

This map shows the moisture content of the top 20 cm of soil compared to historical conditions, based on  in situ (in the ground) measurements of soil moisture. Red and orange hues indicate drier soils, while greens and blues indicate greater soil moisture.

This NASA  SPoRT-LIS  soil moisture  map shows the moisture content of the top 100 cm of soil compared to historical conditions (1981–2013), based on the Noah unified land surface model. Red and orange hues indicate drier soils, while greens and blues indicate greater soil moisture.

Soil moisture data are updated daily, with a 1-day delay due to differences in network report timing.

This map updates daily with data from NASA's Short-term Prediction and Transition Center – Land Information System ( SPoRT-LIS ).

Soil moisture plays an important role in drought and flood forecasting, agricultural monitoring, forest fire prediction, water supply management, and other natural resource activities. Soil moisture observations can forewarn of impending drought or flood conditions before other more standard indicators are triggered.

Flash drought  is the rapid onset or intensification of drought. Unlike slow-evolving drought, which is caused by a decline in precipitation, flash drought occurs when low precipitation is accompanied by abnormally high temperatures, high winds, and/or changes in radiation. These sometimes-rapid changes can quickly raise evapotranspiration rates and remove available water from the landscape.

Drought can result in reduced growth rates, increased stress on  vegetation , and alterations or transformations to the plant community and/or the entire ecosystem. During periods of drought, plants increase their demand for water through increased evapotranspiration and longer growing seasons. 

Outlooks & Forecasts for California

Predicting drought in California depends on the ability to forecast precipitation and temperature within the context of complex climate interactions. View more outlooks & forecasts .

Future Precipitation & Temperature Conditions

Predicted inches of precipitation, less than 0.01 inch, 0.01 to 0.1 inch, 0.1 to 0.25 inch, 0.25 to 0.5 inch, 0.5 to 0.75 inch, 0.75 to 1 inch, 1 to 1.25 inches, 1.25 to 1.5 inches, 1.5 to 1.75 inches, 1.75 to 2 inches, 1.5 to 2 inches, 2 to 2.5 inches, 2.5 to 3 inches, 3 to 4 inches, 4 to 5 inches, 5 to 7 inches, 7 to 10 inches, 10 to 15 inches, 15 to 20 inches, more than 20 inches, probability of below-normal precipitation, 33%–40% chance of below normal.

There is an 33%–40% chance  of below-normal precipitation during this period. 

40%–50% Chance of Below Normal

There is an 40%–50% chance  of below-normal precipitation during this period. 

50%–60% Chance of Below Normal

There is an 50%–60% chance  of below-normal precipitation during this period. 

60%–70% Chance of Below Normal

There is an 60%–70% chance  of below-normal precipitation during this period. 

70%–80% Chance of Below Normal

There is an 70%–80% chance  of below-normal precipitation during this period. 

80%–90% Chance of Below Normal

There is an 80%–90% chance  of below-normal precipitation during this period. 

>90% Chance of Below Normal

There is a >90% chance  of below-normal precipitation during this period. 

Probability of Above-Normal Precipitation

33%–40% chance of above normal.

There is an 33%–40% chance  of above-normal precipitation during this period. 

40%–50% Chance of Above Normal

There is an 40%–50% chance  of above-normal precipitation during this period. 

50%–60% Chance of Above Normal

There is an 50%–60% chance  of above-normal precipitation during this period. 

60%–70% Chance of Above Normal

There is an 60%–70% chance  of above-normal precipitation during this period. 

70%–80% Chance of Above Normal

There is an 70%–80% chance  of above-normal precipitation during this period. 

80%–90% Chance of Above Normal

There is an 80%–90% chance  of above-normal precipitation during this period. 

>90% Chance of Above Normal

There is a  >90% chance  of above-normal precipitation during this period. 

Near-Normal

Odds favor near-normal precipitation during this period.

Probability of Below-Normal Temperatures

There is an 33%–40% chance  of below-normal temperatures during this period. 

There is an 40%–50% chance  of below-normal temperatures during this period. 

There is an 50%–60% chance  of below-normal temperatures during this period. 

There is an 60%–70% chance  of below-normal temperatures during this period. 

There is an 70%–80% chance  of below-normal temperatures during this period. 

There is an 80%–90% chance  of below-normal temperatures during this period. 

There is a >90% chance  of below-normal temperatures during this period. 

Probability of Above-Normal Temperatures

There is an 33%–40% chance  of above-normal temperatures during this period. 

There is an 40%–50% chance  of above-normal temperatures during this period. 

There is an 50%–60% chance  of above-normal temperatures during this period. 

There is an 60%–70% chance  of above-normal temperatures during this period. 

There is an 70%–80% chance  of above-normal temperatures during this period. 

There is an 80%–90% chance  of above-normal temperatures during this period. 

There is a  >90% chance  of above-normal temperatures during this period. 

Odds favor near-normal temperatures during this period.

This map shows the amount of liquid precipitation (in inches) expected to fall over the next 7 days, according to the National Weather Service.

This map shows the probability (percent chance) of above-normal, near-normal, or below-normal precipitation 8 to 14 days in the future.

This map shows the probability (percent chance) of above-normal, near-normal, or below-normal temperature 8 to 14 days in the future.

The Quantitative Precipitation Forecast maps on Drought.gov are updated once a day and are valid from 7 a.m. Eastern that day.

The Climate Prediction Center updates their 8–14 day outlooks daily.

Drought Outlooks for California

Drought is predicted to..., drought persists.

During this time period,  NOAA's Climate Prediction Center predicts that drought conditions will persist.

Drought Improves

During this time period, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center predicts that existing drought conditions will improve (but not be removed).

Drought Is Removed

During this time period, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center predicts that drought will be removed.

Drought Develops

During this time period, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center predicts that drought will develop.

No Drought Present

According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, there is no drought, and is drought development is not predicted.

The Monthly Drought Outlook predicts whether drought will develop, remain, improve, or be removed in the next calendar month. 

The Seasonal Drought Outlook predicts whether drought will develop, remain, improve, or be removed in the next 3 months or so.

The Climate Prediction Center issues its Monthly Drought Outlooks on the last day of the calendar month.

The Climate Prediction Center issues its Seasonal Drought Outlooks on the third Thursday of each calendar month. Sometimes, the map is adjusted on the last day of the month to maintain consistency with the Monthly Drought Outlook.

Snow drought  is a period of abnormally low snowpack for the time of year. Snowpack typically acts as a natural reservoir, providing water throughout the drier summer months. Lack of snowpack storage, or a shift in timing of snowmelt, can be a challenge for drought planning. 

During drought conditions, fuels for  wildfire , such as grasses and trees, can dry out and become more flammable. Drought can also increase the probability of ignition and the rate at which fire spreads. Temperature, soil moisture, humidity, wind speed, and fuel availability (vegetation) are all factors that interact to influence the frequency of large wildfires.

Historical Drought Conditions in California

Drought is a normal climate pattern that has occurred in varying degrees of length, severity, and size throughout history. Below, you can look back at past drought conditions for California according to 3 historical drought indices. The U.S. Drought Monitor is a weekly map that shows the location and intensity of drought across the country since 2000. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is a monthly depiction of drought based on precipitation (with data going back to 1895). And the paleoclimate data uses tree-ring reconstructions to estimate drought conditions before we had widespread instrumental records, going back to the year 0 for some parts of the U.S.  View more historical conditions .

U.S. Drought Monitor

D0 - abnormally dry.

Abnormally Dry (D0) indicates a region that is going into or coming out of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.  View typical impacts by state.

D1 – Moderate Drought

Moderate Drought (D1) is the first of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.  View typical impacts by state.

D2 – Severe Drought

Severe Drought (D2) is the second of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.  View typical impacts by state.

D3 – Extreme Drought

Extreme Drought (D3) is the third of four drought categories (D1–D4), according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. View typical impacts by state.

D4 – Exceptional Drought

Exceptional Drought (D4) is the most intense drought category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.  View typical impacts by state.

The U.S. Drought Monitor (2000–present) depicts the location and intensity of drought across the country. Every Thursday, authors from NOAA, USDA, and the National Drought Mitigation Center produce a new map based on their assessments of the best available data and input from local observers. The map uses five categories: Abnormally Dry (D0), showing areas that may be going into or are coming out of drought, and four levels of drought (D1–D4).  Learn more .

D4 (SPI of -2.0 or less)

The 9-month Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) value for this location is -2.0 or less , indicating exceptional drought (D4) conditions.

D3 (SPI of -1.9 to -1.6)

The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) value for this location is between -1.9 to -1.6 , indicating extreme drought (D3) conditions.

D2 (SPI of -1.5 to -1.3)

The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) value for this location is between -1.5 to -1.3 , indicating severe drought (D2) conditions.

D1 (SPI of -1.2 to -0.8)

The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) value for this location is between -1.2 to -0.8 , indicating moderate drought (D1) conditions.

D0 (SPI of -0.7 to -0.5)

The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) value for this location is between -0.7 to -0.5 , indicating abnormally dry (D0) conditions.

W0 (SPI of 0.5 to 0.7)

The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) value for this location is between 0.5 to 0.7 , indicating abnormally wet (W0) conditions.

W1 (SPI of 0.8 to 1.2)

The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) value for this location is between 0.8 to 1.2 , indicating moderate wet (W1) conditions.

W2 (SPI of 1.3 to 1.5)

The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) value for this location is between 1.3 to 1.5 , indicating severe wet (W2) conditions.

W3 (SPI of 1.6 to 1.9)

The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) value for this location is between 1.6 to 1.9 , indicating extreme wet (W3) conditions.

W4 (SPI of 2.0 or more)

The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) value for this location is  2.0 or greater , indicating exceptional wet (W4) conditions.

Drought results from an imbalance between water supply and water demand. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) measures water supply, specifically precipitation. SPI captures how observed precipitation (rain, hail, snow) deviates from the climatological average over a given time period—in this case, over the 9 months leading up to the selected date. Red hues indicate drier conditions, while blue hues indicate wetter conditions. Data are available monthly from 1895–present. 

D4 (PMDI of -5.0 or less)

Tree rings were used to reconstruct a Palmer Modified Drought Index (PMDI) value for each June–August, estimating relative dryness. The PMDI value for this location is -5.0 or less , indicating exceptional drought (D4) conditions.

D3 (PMDI of -4.9 to -4.0)

Tree rings were used to reconstruct a Palmer Modified Drought Index (PMDI) value for each June–August, estimating relative dryness. The PMDI value for this location is -4.9 to -4.0 , indicating extreme drought (D3) conditions.

D2 (PMDI of -3.9 to -3.0)

Tree rings were used to reconstruct a Palmer Modified Drought Index (PMDI) value for each June–August, estimating relative dryness. The PMDI value for this location is -3.9 to -3.0 , indicating severe drought (D2) conditions.

D1 (PMDI of -2.9 to -2.0)

Tree rings were used to reconstruct a Palmer Modified Drought Index (PMDI) value for each June–August, estimating relative dryness. The PMDI value for this location is -2.9 to -2.0 , indicating moderate drought (D1) conditions.

D0 (PMDI of -1.9 to -1.0)

Tree rings were used to reconstruct a Palmer Modified Drought Index (PMDI) value for each June–August, estimating relative dryness. The PMDI value for this location is -1.9 to -1.0 , indicating abnormally dry (D0) conditions.

W0 (PMDI of 1.0 to 1.9)

Tree rings were used to reconstruct a Palmer Modified Drought Index (PMDI) value for each June–August, estimating relative dryness. The PMDI value for this location is 1.0 to 1.9 , indicating abnormally wet (W0) conditions.

W1 (PMDI of 2.0 to 2.9)

Tree rings were used to reconstruct a Palmer Modified Drought Index (PMDI) value for each June–August, estimating relative dryness. The PMDI value for this location is 2.0 to 2.9 , indicating moderate wet (W1) conditions.

W2 (PMDI of 3.0 to 3.9)

Tree rings were used to reconstruct a Palmer Modified Drought Index (PMDI) value for each June–August, estimating relative dryness. The PMDI value for this location is 3.0 to 3.9 , indicating severe wet (W2) conditions.

W3 (PMDI of 4.0 to 4.9)

Tree rings were used to reconstruct a Palmer Modified Drought Index (PMDI) value for each June–August, estimating relative dryness. The PMDI value for this location is 4.0 to 4.9 , indicating extreme wet (W3) conditions.

W4 (PMDI of 5.0 or greater)

Tree rings were used to reconstruct a Palmer Modified Drought Index (PMDI) value for each June–August, estimating relative dryness. The PMDI value for this location is 5.0 or greater , indicating exceptional wet (W4) conditions.

In paleoclimatology, proxy climate data (e.g., tree rings, ocean sediments) can allow us to reconstruct past climate conditions before we had widespread instrumental records. The Living Blended Drought Atlas , shown here, estimates average drought conditions each summer (June–August) as far back as the year 0 by combining tree-ring reconstructions and instrumental records. Red hues indicate drier conditions, while blue hues indicate wetter conditions.

California Drought Resources

Stay informed: local drought updates.

Drought Alert Emails Get email updates when U.S. Drought Monitor conditions change for your location or a new drought outlook is released.

Regional Drought Status Updates NIDIS & its partners issue regional updates covering drought conditions, outlooks/forecasts, and local impacts.

California-Nevada Drought Email List Get regional drought status updates right to your inbox, as well as drought news, webinars, and other events for the California-Nevada region.

California-Nevada Drought & Climate Outlook Webinars These webinars provide the region with timely information on current drought status and impacts, as well as a preview of current and developing climatic events (i.e., El Niño and La Niña). 

Drought in your area?  Tell us how drought is impacting your community by submitting a condition monitoring report. Your submissions help us better understand how drought is affecting local conditions.

State & Regional Resources

California Water Watch

California Data Exchange Center

University of California | Rangeland Drought Hub

University of California | Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources

CoCoRaHS | California

NDMC | California Drought Planning Resources

USDA Farm Service Agency | California

National Weather Service:

• Western Region Headquarters
• California Nevada River Forecast Center (CNRFC)
• Colorado Basin River Forecast Center (CBRFC)
• EKA - Eureka, CA
• HNX - San Joaquin Valley/Hanford,CA
• LOX - Los Angeles/Oxnard, CA
• MFR - Medford, OR
• MTR - San Francisco Bay Area, CA
• PSR - Phoenix, AZ
• REV - Reno, NV
• SGX - San Diego, CA
• STO - Sacramento, CA
• VEF - Las Vegas, NV

Western Regional Climate Center

USDA | California Climate Hub

USDA Northwest Climate Hub & NDMC | California & the U.S. Drought Monitor

Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center

California Nevada Application Program (CNAP, a NOAA CAP/RISA team)

Resources: Climate & Drought

Fifth National Climate Assessment | Chapter 28: Southwest

Water Year 2023: Weather Whiplash, From Drought To Deluge (2023)

California's Water Supply Strategy: Adopting to a Hotter, Drier Future (2022)

California Department of Water Resources | Climate Action Plan  (2020)

California Climate Adaptation Strategy  (2018)

NOAA/NCEI | California State Climate Summary

U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit