OROVILLE — Though Lake Oroville’s levels have been steadily decreasing since early July, the reservoir remains at 111% of its historical average.
The lake is currently at 813.80 feet of its 900-foot limit but has still fallen below last year when it sat at 851.91 feet. State Water Project Operations Manager Tracy Hinojosa said inflows into the lake have ranged between 2,800 and 3,400 cubic feet per second over the past week, adding that current outflows are roughly 12,800 cfs.
“Outflows through Oroville Dam’s Hyatt Powerplant can vary throughout the day but are currently around 12,800 cfs and include releases needed to meet downstream water quality and flow requirements, water supply deliveries south of the Delta, and local water supply deliveries from the Oroville-Thermalito Complex to the Western and Richvale Canal and Sutter Butte Canal,” Hinojosa said. “Total downstream Feather River releases are at 8,500 cfs, which includes 700 cfs through the City of Oroville and 7,800 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet.”
Hinojosa said releases from the lake are set to increase starting Thursday.
“Total Feather River releases will increase to 9,000 cfs at noon Thursday, with flows through the city of Oroville reduced to 650 cfs and releases from the Thermalito Afterbay River Outlet increased to 8,350 cfs,” Hinojosa said.
Weather ahead
The heat is continuing into September with temperatures once again expected to rise into the triple digits this week.
A briefing was issued by the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office on Wednesday warning of the coming heat event. Meteorologist Dakari Anderson said the hottest day for Northern California is forecast to be Thursday.
“Initially we do have some elevated fire weather concerns with dry conditions and breezy afternoon gusts throughout our valley and foothills,” Anderson said. “We’re not expecting anywhere to get red flag criteria at the moment but again with that heat and warm weather we’re expecting some elevated fire weather.”
Anderson said highs are forecast to be between 100 and 106 degrees with lows between the mid-60s to the mid-70s.
Temperatures are expected to begin cooling down starting Friday.
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