The west drought is over??

[RussC]

We on the left coast have been complaining (justifiably) about the drought for the past 2-3 years now, but apparently the complaint department finally answered the calls, as we've been getting hammered, for the past 2 months, with rain and snow like hasn't been seen here in many years. in fact the local ski area is open with so much snow they can barely keep up with it. Today was the first sunny day we've seen in a wile, so Jennifer and I took a little drive up to our "local" lake (Lost Creek) to see how far the bottom of the boat ramp was still out of the water. our last sail here in late October the water was 30+ vertical feet below the bottom of the ramp so we had used the PITA "un-improved" one at the other end of the lake. surprise! the main ramp is now usable with about 6' of water over the cliff at the bottom. YIPPIE!! still very brisk out, with ice on the eves and recent snow nearby, but hey, people are smiling here again!!

 

[shemandr]

My brother in Carmel has been fretting about the drought for years. I'm glad there is rain now. I don't think California's water problems are over but it's a step forward.

 

[Calif. Ted]

We've only seen the tail end of the storms down here so far, there's a 1200 acre wildfire ON THE BEACH in Ventura right now.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Russ, it's important for us to differentiate, for our East Coast brethren, how BIG the "Left" Coast is. It goes from Maine to Florida, right? Oregon & Washington, while hit with a drought for the past few years, historically has fewer water issues than California, which is mostly a desert that has been way over populated. Many of California's reservoirs are bone dry, Shasta Lake, which feeds the Sacramento River, is only at 29% - I passed it last week and it hasn't been that empty since I started driving from my home to Canada every holiday season for the past 20 years. Just because it rains a bit doesn't mean the drought in California is anywhere near over. Just a reality check.

 

[RussC]

Stu is correct. the overall West coast drought certainly isn't over. the water table won't be back to normal unless we had several more years of what we've had for the past couple of months. but what IS encouraging is how the past couple of months have made such a huge improvement in the lake levels here in Oregon, and how the snow pack is buiding back up to pre drought levels and beyond. perhaps I should clarify to say it's the short term SAILING drought that seems to be drastically improving.
Last year the local ski area was open for only a week or two all year, but last I heard there was over 100" of snow on the ground. historically, it's common for them to just be opening for the season by Christmas. I'm pretty sure my skiing days are all behind me, but this snow will be the future water that keeps the lakes full when the summer months arrive, so let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.. I also heard just today that Crater Lake currently has 120" of snow pack. the past two years you could drive the rim almost year around.
More rain isn't the long term cure. we need the snow in the mountains to continue to build as it has been. at the end of last summer, Applegate lake (another local) was at 12% of full. that's a river which was damed up to create the lake. it was no longer a lake at all, but just a creek for it's full length. pretty amazing.
here is a pic of Lost creek marina just last October. different angle, but same marina shown in my first photo. note location of ramp dock on far bank.

 

[capta]

If I remember California correctly, now they're going to start having the mud slides galore. It's always something there; earthquakes, too much rain, not enough rain, wild fires, bigger wild fires, tuly fog and hundred car pile ups, etc. Just a week without all that drama would be amazing.

 

[Brian D]

We are in that part of the cycle where El Nino will produce a lot of rain. So far we have had rain a couple times a week. Not a serious downpour, but enough to make a (albeit) difference. More rain is scheduled and hopefully it will be in more abundance. Both Russ and Stu are correct, what rain we have had is good, but still not enough to do any good.

 

[JamesG161]

We are in that part of the cycle where El Nino

Welcome to the Pacific Ocean heating and cooling cycles. El Niño is just starting. When it gets a bit colder...
Let it snow, Let it snow,.... let it snow.
Jim...

 

[Stratus3]

 

[Stratus3]

Posted before I entered text, Lost Creek last January our local lake. We have been boating on this lake for 20 years, bought our Mac just for this lake. As for what I did in the last few weeks, repaired worn stitching in the main sail, added two new cup holders,my wife bought them from the medical supply they are made for wheel chairs but clamp on the rails perfect cheap and great quality.
Spring is on the way.

 

[zeehag]

a tad bit of rain does not a drought end make.
look at the lakes--aint no water in there.. when the lakes are again filled the drought will be over.
donot hold breath. i been watching cali drought since 1973. it aint over till its over, and it aint over.
this is second year in sequence of el nino. this is el nino worse than any other. we aint started yet.
last worst ever el nino was 1997. this is even stronger. has been with us since may, when last years ended....
happy pnw winter this year.
unfortunately there is such hot water in our pacific ocean right here where i am that the ictz/monsoonal trough is shooting off fronts farther south than needed for cali.
i do hope cali gets a reprieve.

 

[RussC]

I'm surprised to hear that S Californica isn't also getting the snow and rain that we're getting here. we're only 55 miles north of the Or/Ca border and we've had one or the other almost every day this month. often quite heavy. I had been working on the boat in the yard Dec 12th and woke up the next morning to 5" of snow on the boat. we rarely get even a flurry in our yard each year and it's gone by afternoon, but not so this year. this is the stuff we need lots of in the mountains to support us next summer. so far so good and hoping for even more.

 

[RussC]

View attachment 118392

Stratus3,
Were you at the Lost Creek lake day use area yesterday walking the dogs? did you happen on a couple in a white dodge truck that walked by and joked about being there to work on getting a tan?

 

[CloudDiver]

I'm in SoCal near Brian D, and concur with others... it may be wet this winter but the drought end is still a long way off. What makes the biggest difference is how much snow will accumulate in the Sierra Nevada Mt Range, as well San Gabriel & San Bernardino Mts... Up North the Shasta/Cascades. The snow melt in the spring is what feeds the tributaries and ends up in the reservoirs at a rate fast enough to beat consumption and to a lesser extent evaporation. My off the cuff guess is that we'd need 6 to 8 winters of excellent snow build in all these mountain ranges to get all the lakes/reservoirs back up to 90% or better.

 

[JamesG161]

The Jet Stream flow is directing moisture traffic, so to speak.
http://www.intellicast.com/National/Wind/JetStream.aspx
The stream line contours are the wind speeds of Jet Stream.
Note why Southern CA has no rain and WA & OR is flush. The Jet Stream is avoiding South CA.
When the ground temperature drops more over arid AZ and NV, the JS will probably send water down there.

The JS steers hurricanes, violent storm fronts, and decides where the moisture laden air will dump.
Jim...

 

[JamesG161]

This is the forecast Jet Stream for New Years Day.
http://squall.sfsu.edu/gif/jetstream_h120_00.gif
Dry is CA. Note on this map the Grey area out in the Pacific.... El Niño effects.
Look up El Niño on this link for better explanation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_stream
Jim...

 

[rgranger]

I'm glad to hear you are getting some precipitations.... On the right coast we are getting rain as well.... but we are also getting heat. It was over 70F today... I went sailing all day last Sunday in a T-shirt.... and we have plans to go again tomorrow. Normally my boat is on a trailer under a tarp at this time of year....lemonade from lemons

 

[RussC]

I'm glad to hear you are getting some precipitations.... On the right coast we are getting rain as well.... but we are also getting heat. It was over 70F today... I went sailing all day last Sunday in a T-shirt.... and we have plans to go again tomorrow. Normally my boat is on a trailer under a tarp at this time of year....lemonade from lemons

It seems pretty normal to have polar opposites between one coast and the other due to the waves in the jet stream. We thought it was pretty awesome also, for the first year or two, being able to bask in winter sunshine. but the thrill wore off pretty quickly when we discovered the cost on the flip side. We're rootin' for the east coast to have more warm sunny days this winter however .

 

[RussC]

First winter snow pack tests were done in the central Sierras last Wednesday. snowpack is 136% of normal with moisture content at 112% of normal. last year on that date it was 45% of normal at the same location .

looking good so far

 

[zeehag]

hoping no wildfires near lost angels for a loong while, as leaking methane may have too much fun. i hope it rains a lot in cali-- has needed for sooomany years.