The Weather and You

First the good news, some of the medium range forecast models shows a distinct break in the wet pattern in the first week in April, giving the ground an opportunity dry and out and for local run-off from the Coastal Hills and mountains to slow. Up in the High Sierra, the near record snow pack, (now the second snowiest winter since 1946) will begin to settle and compress under sunny skies and warmer temperatures.  There is enough snow in the High Sierra to fill all of the major reservoirs and ensure plenty of water for next year and the following year, but keep in mind that the two most recent “wet” winters, 2010-2011 and the more recent 2016-17, drought conditions returned to California only two years after winters which had snowpacks similar to the current one. Keep in mind that when the Central Valley Water Project was completed in 1965 by then Governor Pat Browns administration, the States population was only 16,000,000 people. Compare that to almost 40,000,000 today with essentially the same water supply. Additionally, Californias Agriculture industry has grown exponentially using much more water then it did almost 70 years ago.  If below normal rain and snowfall were to follow for the next two winters, drought conditions could increase Statewide once again. Locally,  the East bay Water District is in great shape. Total storage for the entire system is at 90%.  Up in the Mother Lode, Pardee Reservior is 100% full and Camanche is 81%. The short term forecasts show sunny skies and unseasonably cold temperatures this weekend with local frost. The next significant weather is expected by next Tuesday.