California Gives Thanks for Rain and Snow

California got something this weekend many will give thanks for: rain and snow. As the state was entering the fourth year of a crippling drought, the first of two storm systems moved down the coast on Sunday dropping rain and snow throughout most of the state.

Sunday’s storm brought rain, fog and wind to a large part of the state; snow to ski resorts and some flight delays at airports. Another major rainstorm is expected starting Tuesday and could bring 1 to 3 includes of rain to parts of Southern California and snow at higher elevations. The downpour could continue for a couple of days, bringing the drought-stricken state much needed moisture.

This forecast brings the first major rain that California has had since last February. The state had a three-day long storm then that dropped 4 inches of rain.

Experts caution, though, that while the storm systems are great news, they are not going to put an end to the drought problem. “One storm is not a drought-buster,” reminded Jet Propulsion Laboratory climatologist Bill Patzert, who added that, hopefully, it is “a preview of the coming attractions for the next few months.”

The rain (or water) calendar year began Oct. 1. Since then, downtown Los Angeles had not received as much as a half an inch of rain until this weekend. Between the two storms, the area could actually be at the normal level for this time of year, which is typically about 2 inches.

It will take more than a couple inches in Los Angeles and a few months on track to make any kind of dent in the drought and replenish the drained later tables and lakes in the state. The northern part of the Sierra mountain chain was only at 76 percent of the normal level for the two-month old water year.

The signs in the California mountains, however, are better than they have been and the mountains should receive a lot more snow this week. The storms that hit the Sierras already this fall have made this year better than last year. In fact, the rain and snow levels after only two months in the rain year were not achieved until February (two to three months longer) last year.

The Sierra snowpack provides a great deal of the water for much of the state. It too will take a long time to recover from the drought too. The snow levels dropped last year to its second-lowest recorded amounts in 90 years.

Most of the ski resorts in the state have relied heavily on man-mad snow in recent years. But several got fresh powder over the Thanksgiving weekend, may get a few more inches overnight, and will get more snow later this week.

The dearth of snow in recent years has led to water shortages that have plagued the state this summer and fall. California should give thanks for the rain and snow this weekend and during the week and hope the precipitation gives an indication that the worst of the drought is over.

By Dyanne Weiss

Sources:
Los Angeles Times
Telegraph
CBS Sacramento
CBS News