CA's Fastest Warming Cities: Report

CALIFORNIA — Rising climates and extreme drought have become tangible issues for Californians facing destructive wildfire seasons and incoming water restrictions.

According to a new report from Climate Central, the U.S. is about 2.6 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than it was in 1970, but the changes vary per city.

In Climate Central's April 20 report, a group of scientists and journalists analyzed which cities in California had warmed the fastest according to annual average temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.

Here are the fastest warming cities in California.

1. Fresno (+4 degrees)

2. Chico (+3 degrees)

3. San Francisco (+2.9 degrees)

4. Santa Maria (+2.8 degrees)

5. Palm Springs (+2.1 degrees)

Here are the slowest warming cities.

1. Monterey

2. Los Angeles

3. Eureka

4. San Diego

5. Bakersfield

"Warming is one of many ways that continued emissions of heat-trapping gasses like CO2 impact our planet, our communities, and our food and water supplies," researchers wrote in the report.

Across the U.S., the fastest warming city was Reno, Nev., which has risen 7.7 degrees since 1970. The fastest warming state was Alaska, which has seen an average temperature rise of 4.3 degrees.

The Golden State continues to dry up under extraordinary drought conditions, and Gov. Gavin Newsom warned Californians last month to step up conservation efforts or face mandatory water restrictions.

The news comes as temperatures begin to climb and the state leaves the potential for rain in the rearview mirror. January through March is typically when most of California's rain and snow falls; this year, those months were the driest on record.

"After the record-setting December 2021 in many places along the West Coast, it is difficult to fathom how the moisture tap essentially shut down along the West Coast when the ridge of high pressure aloft set up and became reluctant to move anywhere," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham. "However, that is the case this winter, and now we are once again discussing the worsening drought conditions."

READ MORE: Mandatory CA Water Cuts Loom, 'Aggressive' Conservation Urged