The Weather and You

After the Atmospheric River ended at the middle of last month, the percentage of normal rainfall for most of the East Bay was around 250 to 300% of normal.  With the a few dry periods and occasional light rain events in the last two weeks, the percentage of normal rain to date at Hayward Airport is healthy 241% of normal. Oakland Airport stands at 205% of normal for the entire season which started on October 1st. Its' been an epic year in the High Sierra from Lassen to the Tehachapi, with most locations have already exceeded the entire average snowfall to date with two of the four largest snow months still left on the calendar, February and March. With conservation, East Bay Municipal Water District has enough water for two years if the rest of the water year is near average and we don’t have early spring with warm temperatures. We can get by a dry early spring, however above normal temperatures would produce an early and accelerated snow melt and run-off. Right now, the capacity at EBMUD for al lakes and reservoirs stands at 80%. Locally, Briones is 100% full and Lafayette is 74%. Up in the Mother Lode, Pardee Reservoir is at 92% capacity and Comanche, which is the largest is two-thirds full. The current Lange range forecast indicates February will have near to slightly above normal precipitation. Some light rain is expected late this weekend and then again around the middle of next week. It appears the interval between weather systems is around 5 to 7 days. Look for plenty of deep powder for the Presidents weekend Holiday in the High Sierra. Looking ahead to next winter, there is the prospect of El Nino conditions which could produce normal to above normal rain and snow for Northern California but keep in mind it only takes two years of below normal precip. to put us in drought conditions.