Well before we get too far ahead,
I just want to get to the topics right
away that you're probably thinking
about after this unbelievable storm.
And I don't say that lightly.
We are really just shocked how
much rain we got at a one system.
We start thinking about the big picture.
Is this enough to end the drought?
The short answer is no.
The longer answer is, well,
we'll wait and see how things go,
but this is certainly a huge step
in the right direction obviously.
And what just happened was truly
a rare combination first of all.
We had a record low storm.
Now what that means is we measure
these storms in many different ways.
But at the core of this one you have low
pressure and it was a record lowest in
that part of the Pacific we've ever seen.
Certainly for October and that connected
with some record waste air for this
time of year you put the two together.
Usually ones always offered,
doesn't quite connect.
You get that combination and then
we were right in the firing line.
So it's the one two punch and then
where it goes we were that spot.
We were the hot spot and that's
why we have this.
Exceptional storm to talk about and you know,
is this mean we're going to
have a wet winter?
The truth is I don't know because
we still have a long way to go.
But I will say the bigger you are
in the beginning of the season
rain wise it just makes it easier
to get to the numbers you need to
get to for the rest of the five
months of our core rainy season.
So remember when we're talking about drought,
we're talking about getting lackluster
rain and snow for two years and then
you end up with half the state in a
five out of five exceptional drought.
I think by the time we look
at this map later on,
things are going to look.
Drastically different and in California we
always remember which side of this we're on.
For example, lately,
according to the Drought Palmer Index,
we've seen two of the driest
years on record in California.
According to that index within the last
decade, this year being the worst.
But if you look back at the history,
California very easily,
sometimes within the next year,
you could be way above,
and you could have major storms and
you could have flooding and all of
a sudden that becomes the story,
so it's hard to say where we're going
to end up. But I will just say this.
What we went through was truly historic,
and it's all because of these
atmospheric rivers.
Now we've been using this term more
and more lately on TV and online,
but it's always been a thing for awhile,
and what it really is is that big storm
connecting to subtropical moisture.
That's where the really wet areas
in any given year,
about 40 to 60% of your rain in
California comes from these storms.
If you get them, you're fine.
If you don't get them drought.
If you get a lot of them or
they're really strong, you flood.
That's California weather in a nutshell.
Now through the rest of this week.
We have some that will last far Northern
California and then some things look
interesting once we get past Halloween,
so we'll have to keep an eye on it.
That really dictates how our rainy
season goes if you get them or not.
Just so you know on Monday this
continue to March to the South,
so the coastal range for the Central Coast.
They're getting some heavy rain,
some flooding issues as well.
And again,
it's that combination if it all connects,
you're in good shape and
there's more down the line.
But really,
the focus is on the rain initially
and remember on this Monday
we had some very heavy snow.
Looking at two to three feet
of heavy wet Sierra Snow,
there's a lot of water in that snow.
It's good for snow pack.
It gets the resorts open
up early with more terrain,
but there's a lot of other side issues
like hiring and things like that.
The other thing that the snow will
do is shut off some of the pure
runoff that you get in these steep
canyons and passes that are related
to burn scar flooding issues,
of which we've seen a number of
them closing highways 70 and
50 come to mind on both sides,
by the way, so what's left of this?
Well,
the steady rain continues to move South.
We're still going to have burn scars.
Issues I've seen rockslides weeks after
heavy rains so once it's compromised
you've got to pay attention to it.
We're going to high water
in the creeks and streams.
The lakes are coming up or bills
come up 20 feet in one storm
and it will continue to come up,
likely for the rest of the season last.
Something crazy happens and remember,
this is, you know you look at your Almanac.
All these things sort of middle
of the road kind of stuff.
And then you look at our season
total 6 1/4 inches of rain.
We had 6 1/2 inches of rain for
all of last season,
so that gives you some
perspective that what is.
Happen is we have literally flipped a switch.
We went from one record
which is unbelievable.
212 days in a row without a drop
of rain in Sacramento that ended
September 9th with a weak storm.
And then here we are with this
October storm with a brand new record.
More than five inches of rain
within 24 hours.
Also,
SAC Executive set a new record and
blue candy which is 5000 feet up.
10 inches of rain in 24 hours.
That's a new record for them.
So all these spots,
even the spots that don't get
a lot of rain are way above average now.
And even if it did not rain.
At all in the month of November,
we would still end up above average.
That's how much rain we got in one storm.
OK, looking ahead starting off in the 50s,
we're going to end up in the 60s.
What's left with this?
We could see a few afternoon
thunderstorms today and then we're
going to take a bit of a break.
The next system,
which is more Pacific Northwest,
brings us some clouds and
maybe a few sprinkles.
But really, what we're looking forward to,
and I think this is very beneficial,
is through the day on Wednesday
going into the weekend,
we're going to see warming conditions,
sunny skies, dry weather.
That gives the chance for all that water to
percolate down and to keep moving along.
You get hit with two of those in a row.
You're going to have massive problems.
We're not going to have that.
Things are starting to wind down.
Bringing hit a dry streak into the weekend,
and perhaps beyond.