2017 California/Southwest Weather Thread

[Bonk]

Friday's total was 2.28" here in Modjeska.  

 

Weather Underground forecast 3.15", while the NWS predicted 5.91".

 

 

It looks like the brunt of this storm was the Santa Barbara area.

 

 

[Anti Marine Layer]

Nice storm, but most places got lower rainfall totals than forecasted.

[Dylan]

The Santa Barbara area did quite well.  I picked up around 6.05" (I had to empty my rain gauge so it would not overflow).  

 

This storm drenched the Cachuma watershed and put significant runoff into Cachuma.  As of 8 am on 2/17/2017 Cachuma was at 18.2% of capacity and today 2/18/2017 at 8 am it was at 32.5%.  The 24 hour rise is 27689 acre feet, nearly double from the lakes low last Fall.

[Guest happ]

Dylan, on 18 Feb 2017 - 09:06 AM, said:Dylan, on 18 Feb 2017 - 09:06 AM, said:

The Santa Barbara area did quite well.  I picked up around 6.05" (I had to empty my rain gauge so it would not overflow).  

 

This storm drenched the Cachuma watershed and put significant runoff into Cachuma.  As of 8 am on 2/17/2017 Cachuma was at 18.2% of capacity and today 2/18/2017 at 8 am it was at 32.5%.  The 24 hour rise is 27689 acre feet, nearly double from the lakes low last Fall.

 

That's great news; here's more feedback from NWS_LA yesterday:

 

"Overall, Santa Barbara rainfall totals so far have varied from 

  3.5" up to just under 9 inches in the Santa Ynez Mtn Range. 

  Ventura County received just over 8" in the mountains and coast 

  and valleys varied from 2.5 to 5 inches with Ojai receiving up to

  6.5". As for Los Angeles County. The rain did not pick up until 

  this afternoon, but it certainly left a mark. As of 7 pm...The LA 

  County Mtns have received over 5" while valleys were up to around 

  2.5 to 3". Coastal areas in LA county were around 1.5 to 2 inches 

  for the most part. So far Downtown Los Angeles have received less 

  than 2 inches, but it will continue to rain across LA County for 

  several more hours. The record for rain at Downtown Los Angeles 

  for today was 2.18" set in 1884. So a bit surprised based on rain 

  totals that Downtown LA will likely come up short of the record."

 

[Guest happ]

https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2017/02/17/another-california-dam-grapples-with-flood-danger/

 

 

[Guest happ]

Wet winter may help Colorado River push off problems, but it will not end the drought   http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-colorado-river-20170217-story.html

[Guest happ]

Storm total: 2.37

 

Feb: 4.18

 

Rainyear: 19.41

[Anti Marine Layer]

Here's a good site that shows total rainfall to date and percentage of normal, as well as the annual averages, for all of California.

 

http://www.cnrfc.noaa.gov/awipsProducts/RNOWRKCLI.php

 

Nice to see us above the annual averages most areas for a change, but it will take a lot more to end the drought.

[richard mann]

(.. cross-reference.)
 
http://theweatherforums.com/index.php/topic/1445-mid-late-fall-early-winter-2016-colder-air-mass-movement-and-distribution-projections/?p=221340

[Thunder98]

I have now gotten 18.43" of rain this water year. The annual average is 13.53" (September 1st-Today)

[Thunder98]

What a beautiful Sunday morning!

 

 

 

[Guest happ]

It is cloudy and cool today

 

Saturday: 62/ 50

[Anti Marine Layer]

Rain is not ready to give up yet as it's still raining very lightly this morning.

 

Also, low clouds have extended far into the Coachella Valley this morning, which is not something we see very often here.

 

[Dylan]

The rainfall total from the 16th thru 18th here added up to 6.2".  This adds up to around 23.1" for the season.  The season average is somewhere around 18.5".

[Dylan]

Lake Cachuma has done quite well with the last big storm.  All of the County of Santa Barbara is above average for the entire rainy season and it is not even March.

 

[Dan the Weatherman]

1.53" fell here in Orange from the strong storm on Friday. This storm underperformed somewhat for this area, since totals were expected to be 2-4". It was a significant storm, but the expected totals were too high. I picked up 1.94" back on January 12, and a hefty total of 3.70" from Jan 21-23, so this certainly wasn't the biggest storm of the season for my area.

[Guest happ]

Measured 0.09 from overnight showers/ still drizzle this morning.

[Anti Marine Layer]

We don't need this annoying May Gray in February. We either need rain or sunshine. Otherwise the clouds are useful for nothing.

Remember plants need both sunshine and rain to grow, but not cloudy weather with occasional drizzle.

[Jesse]

We don't need this annoying May Gray in February. We either need rain or sunshine. Otherwise the clouds are useful for nothing.

 

Remember plants need both sunshine and rain to grow, but not cloudy weather with occasional drizzle.

We're all going to die someday.

[DesertDAC]

One of the mildest winters I've seen for 25 years in the SW, and fairly wet too (Oct-June is our dry season). The California storm that was supposed to cloud us over half the long weekend went north, and today it's headed to the 60's and nothing but blue skies.

[Guest happ]

The clouds haven't interfered with spring tree blossoms; my neighbors tree

[Guest happ]

DesertDAC, on 20 Feb 2017 - 10:54 AM, said:

One of the mildest winters I've seen for 25 years in the SW, and fairly wet too (Oct-June is our dry season). The California storm that was supposed to cloud us over half the long weekend went north, and today it's headed to the 60's and nothing but blue skies.

 

Good to hear from New Mexico  

[Anti Marine Layer]

The clouds haven't interfered with spring tree blossoms; my neighbors tree

 

Most years they start middle of January. This year they did not start until early February.

 

Also I've noticed that after a big storm, hills don't become green until after a few warm, sunny days. By May they are always brown already, which proves marine layer drizzle has no benefit whatsoever.

 

Finally I have never seen jacarandas bloom in spring until after the first heat wave.

[Guest happ]

Mr Marine Layer, on 20 Feb 2017 - 11:54 AM, said:

Most years they start middle of January. This year they did not start until early February.

 

Also I've noticed that after a big storm, hills don't become green until after a few warm, sunny days. By May they are always brown already, which proves marine layer drizzle has no benefit whatsoever.

 

Finally I have never seen jacarandas bloom in spring until after the first heat wave.

 

Yes the evergreen Pear often begins to flower around Christmas. I took photos of acacia trees also flowering.  

 

Another 0.10 from overnight showers; all the action is in Central California. Perhaps another storm this weekend.

 

68/ 58

 

Feb: 4.37

[Anti Marine Layer]

Today's high of 70 F in Fullerton Airport messes up their chances for a week or longer of below normal high temperatures.

 

Otherwise another mostly cloudy, rainless day, but at least the low clouds were gone, which allowed warmer temperatures and a few more sun breaks.

[Dan the Weatherman]

Here in Orange, my season rain total (since July 1) to date is 19.09", and so far February has received 2.75" of rain.

[Dan the Weatherman]

Most years they start middle of January. This year they did not start until early February.

 

Also I've noticed that after a big storm, hills don't become green until after a few warm, sunny days. By May they are always brown already, which proves marine layer drizzle has no benefit whatsoever.

 

Finally I have never seen jacarandas bloom in spring until after the first heat wave.

 

Jacarandas are subtropical (being native to Argentina and Bolivia), which is probably one of the reasons why it requires warmer weather before they bloom.

[Guest happ]

Dan the Weatherman, on 22 Feb 2017 - 02:47 AM, said:

Jacarandas are subtropical (being native to Argentina and Bolivia), which is probably one of the reasons why it requires warmer weather before they bloom.

 

What I haven't figured out about jacaranda trees is that they seem to flower first closest to the coast and then inland.  I worked in the South Bay and would notice jacarandas blooming a week or two before than in my area which is around 20 miles inland.

[Anti Marine Layer]

First day that was not mostly cloudy in a long time. Sunset is almost one hour later than its earliest time now and as we approach the Spring Equinox (declination less than 10 degrees now) the rate at which it gets dark after sunset will continue to get faster, but not by very much. It gets dark fastest (relative to sunset time) at the Equinoxes.

[Guest happ]

First minimum below 50° this month; strong winds last night.

[Guest happ]

Hopefully all vestiges of the drought will be gone by the end of the rain year

[Guest happ]

A reverse example of wind generated warmth; cold air mass today 

 

PASADENA        N/A     57  32  38 N1          N/A                  
    
SAN RAFAEL HILLS   N/A     48  25  40 NW6G20      N/A                  
 

[Anti Marine Layer]

Still would need a few big storms in March to end the drought statewide. Otherwise today was a chilly, but sunny day.

[Anti Marine Layer]

Well, the sunset is now one hour later than it was on December 4, when it bottomed out at 4:42 PM. Not the same difference for sunrise times, however. Back on December 4, sunrise was 6:40 AM. Today was only 15 minutes earlier.

 

Also, the sun has been higher than 45 degrees at solar noon each day since February 18. Back on December 21, the maximum height was 32.94 degrees up.

 

 

After the first attempt failed, stupid Kansen Chu is once again trying to do away with Daylight Saving Time in California. He just won't give up, like Jill Stein with her recounts after the election. This could mean sunrise of 4:40 AM in June and sunsets before 7 PM for most of the summer. However, they are also proposing different time change dates than the rest of the U.S., which would be really stupid, or year-round Daylight Saving. Either would require a change to federal law. Or maybe this guy is counting on Calexit really happening.

 

Anyway, I'm looking forward to Daylight Saving Time starting March 12. This could be the last year we do it.

[Guest happ]

Coldest morning since late January. NWS_LA issued frost advisory for San Fernando valley.

 

L: 45

 

Thursday: 62/ 48

[Bonk]

Coldest morning since late January. NWS_LA issued frost advisory for San Fernando valley.

 

Chilly indeed here in Modjeska - 31.4* this morning.  33* yesterday morning.

[Guest happ]

Bonk, on 24 Feb 2017 - 7:12 PM, said:

Chilly indeed here in Modjeska - 31.4* this morning.  33* yesterday morning.

 

Nice to see that winter isn't over yet. It dipped below 50° around 9PM last night under calm/ clear conditions. 

 

L: 43

 

Friday: 64/ 45

[Anti Marine Layer]

Looks like Monday's storm should be focused on San Diego, which would be good for them as they are still below 10 inches.

[Guest happ]

Cold/ light showers w/ low snow levels [under 4000'].

 

Saturday: 63/ 43

[Anti Marine Layer]

Pathetic storm here with most areas less than 0.10". I did see a very dim rainbow this morning, but it probably would not even show up in a picture.