Anthony Peak: Snowpack, water in good shape
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:15 amFrom the Colusa Sun-Herald:
“Snowpack measurements taken at Anthony Peak in the Mendocino National Forest show that precipitation this winter is slightly above average.
The average snowpack measured at the end of February was 70.4 inches, with water content measuring 25.7 inches, forest officials reported on Thursday. Those measurements are 113 percent of the average snowpack and 105 percent of average water content, according to the report.
The historic average for this time of year is 61.8 inches of snow pack and 24.7 inches of water content. … “
Continue reading this article from the Colusa Sun-Herald by clicking here.
California Water Update: A mostly adequate year
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 19, 2010 at 6:53 amFrom KQED’s Climate Watch:
“Almost everywhere you look this week, California is dry. By which we mean the state is experiencing the first truly warm, rainless week since a series of Pacific storms blew through the state in mid-January.
Hydrologists for the state Department of Water Resources and the federal California-Nevada River Forecast Center expect the warm temperatures to trigger the first significant surge of snowmelt for the season. With slightly above-average snowpacks in the Sierra Nevada, that should help continue to raise reservoir levels. Our 2009-2010 rainy season is likely to go down in water history as adequate–short of hopes for a wet year but an improvement on the past three winters, which were much drier than average. … “
Read more from KQED’s Climate Watch by clicking here.
State’s drought is still here despite recent wet weather
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 17, 2010 at 7:43 amFrom the Siskiyou Daily News:
“Despite above average precipitation and snowpack across the north state, talk of California’s drought continues.
It has been a relatively wet winter across California, but the state’s reservoir storage levels remain low, said Mark Cowin, director of the California Department of Water Resources in a recent press release.
“After three years of drought conditions … even a wet year won’t get us out of the woods,” he said.More rain is forecast for late in the weekend and possibly into next week, according to the National Weather Service reports.
As of last Friday, Shasta Lake’s level was at 98 percent of historical average – and rising. … “
Continue reading this article from the Siskiyou Daily News by clicking here.
The weather and climate of California
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 17, 2010 at 7:41 am
From Weatherwise Magazine:
“California is known for both its cultural and geographical diversity. More than a quarter of Californians are foreign born, and no single ethnic group comprises a majority of the state’s nearly 37 million residents. Geographically the differences are even more striking: California is home to the highest peak in the 48 contiguous United States (Mount Whitney, elevation 14,505 feet) and the lowest spot in the Western Hemisphere (Death Valley, elevation −252 feet). Not only are these two locations located in the same state, but they are actually only 76 miles apart! As a result, California has a climate that is just as diverse as its geography and population. Despite the conventional wisdom that the Golden State (so-called because of the Gold Rush in the 1850s) is blessed with sunny beach days 365 days of the year, the difference between the state’s record extremes is actually the fifth greatest in the United States, with a range of 179 degrees between its record minima of −45°F at Boca Reservoir near Truckee and its blistering maxima, of 134°F at aptly named Death Valley, also a North American record high.
Climate Overview
Most of the populated regions of California are graced with a Mediterranean climate (Koeppen type Cs), characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. These areas include the coastal sections and coastal mountains near the Oregon border in the north, San Diego in the south, as well as the Central Valley. Within this area, temperatures typically trend from more temperate closer to the Pacific Ocean to wider seasonal extremes in the state’s interior. … “
Continue reading this article from Weatherwise Magazine by clicking here.
Weather update: It’s springtime conditions this week, so does that mean El Nino is over?
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 16, 2010 at 5:14 amFrom the Accu-Weather Western Weather Blog:
“I do not know whether March will go out like a lamb or lion but I can tell you the middle of the month will be a pussycat, purring nicely. There certainly will be no big storms and even small storms will be rather short lived. So I think its time to kick back and relax a little. Its been a busy winter, for some more than others, and its never bad to relax when one can.
There will be a cold front move through the Pacific Northwest coast Tuesday bringing a period of rain from western Washington to the northern most California coast. Much of this rain will be light, especially from Oregon on south. For Northwest standards this will be weaker than most storms in March. … “
Read more of the forecast from the Western Weather Blog by clicking here.
So, does all this nice weather mean El Nino is over? No, say some experts in this article from NBC San Diego:
” … climate experts are optimistic, saying they’re latest long-range forecast models are still calling for a moderate or strong El Nino to continue through April. They’re calling for above average rainfall for the next 6-8 weeks and while this sunshine feels great and we’re finally out of our drought conditions, a surplus of water is always welcome in Southern California and you better believe those who manage the water supplies are hoping the current heat wave and dry-spell ends quickly.”
Read the full text from NBC San Diego by clicking here.
Weather update: Nice warm-up coming
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 13, 2010 at 7:49 amFrom the Accu-Weather Western Weather Blog:
“Looking ahead to next week the weather event that sticks out will be the big warm-up in California and other places in the Southwest. A big ridge building up aloft will help bring about the warming and it will really feel like Spring is about here. Depending on where you are the warmest weather will occur at different times between early and midweek. … “
Find out what temperatures you can expect by clicking here.
Weather update: Springtime temperatures next week
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 12, 2010 at 5:19 amFrom the Accu-Weather Western Weather Blog:
“Many times it is not hard finding something interesting to talk about in the Western weather. My coverage area is large and usually something big is happening even in March. Today I am faced with the unusual. Yes, there will be some rain and snow in the West over the next 4 to 5 days, but nothing out of the ordinary. A typical winter storm just does not draw a lot of attention. Perhaps the most unusual weather in the next week does not occur until next week. More of that in a minute.
A storm in the eastern Pacific spreads rain and mountain snow into Western Washington and Oregon into northern California late Thursday night and Friday morning. … “
Find out what else is in store for us in this weather update by clicking here.
Weather update: No big storms, but pesky cold ones likely
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 9, 2010 at 9:05 amFrom the Accu-Weather Western Weather blog:
“This will be a week with no big rain and snow storms for California or the interior Great Basin and Southwest. But there will be a couple of pesky, cold storms that bring precipitation and some problems. Meanwhile the Northwest has three separate storms bringing rain and Sierra snow through Friday, especially from the Cascades on west.
Two cold inside sliders move through the Southwest States this week. The first is occurring now and is located on the northern California coast. It can be seen in this visible satellite picture as swirl of clouds.
This cold system drops southeast tonight and tomorrow moving into northern Arizona tomorrow afternoon and night. As the low moves southeast it will bring rain and snow showers along its path with rather low snow levels. Snow levels in the Sierra tonight and tomorrow morning will be in the 2,000 to 2,500 foot level. In southern California snow levels drop to 3,500 feet. Not a lot of snow falls above the snow level but enough to give small accumulations on non-paved surfaces and slippery roads. … “
Find out more of what’s in store for us by clicking here.
Commentary: One wet year does not a drought-buster make
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 6, 2010 at 6:36 amFrom Jon Mendelson at the Tracy Press, this commentary:
“With storms sweeping through Northern California every few days, there’s a question on water-watchers’ lips: Is the drought over?
As with most things bearing monetary and political implications, it depends on who you ask. So the best place to start is with the raw data.
According to the state’s Daily Reservoir Storage Summary, as of Thursday, many of our area’s largest water caches were holding their own when compared to their one-year averages.
Shasta, the grand Sacramento River reservoir, was ahead of its to-date season average at 102 percent. Friant Dam, which feeds plenty of San Joaquin Valley farmers, was at 97 percent of normal. The Tuolumne River’s Don Pedro was at 109 percent.
Others are lagging behind.
The Stanislaus River’s New Melones was at 86 percent of its to-date season average. New Hogan on the Calaveras River was at 71 percent. Oroville, the Feather River’s huge reservoir that plays an enormous role in Central Valley water distribution, is at 56 percent.
Either way, it’s too early to get overly excited about these figures. … “
Continue reading this commentary by clicking here.
Weather update: Storm is swimming with the fishes
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 5, 2010 at 3:22 pm
From the Accu-Weather Western Weather Blog:
“With regards with the Friday/Weekend storm we have talked about all week, the trend that started yesterday has continued right through today. That trend is for the storm to stay farther offshore as it drops south west of California Friday night and Saturday, then slower to move east through southern most California Saturday night and Sunday.
The afternoon visible satellite picture shows the low, approximately around 39N and 130W.
While there is a band of clouds just off the northern and north-central California coast, and radar is showing some returns from those clouds, that rain is probably just falling aloft as Virga. The low will track almost due south along, or near, 130 Friday night into much of Saturday. This will keep all the rain off the coast during this time for Central California leaving much of that area high and dry. … “
Read more from the Accu-Weather Western Weather Blog by clicking here.
Dan Bacher commentary on the DWR snow survey: Water content 107 percent of normal
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 5, 2010 at 8:20 amFrom Dan Bacher at IndyBay.org, this commentary:
“The snow survey conducted by the State Department of Water Resources (DWR) on March 3 indicated that water content in California’s mountain snowpack is 107 percent of normal for the date, making the state water supply outlook much better this year than it was last season. By contrast, water content statewide was 80 percent of normal at this time last year.
Amazing, DWR is still promoting the false concept of a drought this year. “California may face a fourth year of serious drought in 2010,” DWR proclaims on its “drought” page: http://www.water.ca.gov/drought.
“Today’s readings boost our hope that we will be able to increase the State Water Project allocation by this spring to deliver more water to our cities and farms,” warned Mark Cowin, the new Department of Water Resources (DWR) Director. “But we must remember that even a wet winter will not fully offset three consecutive dry years or pumping restrictions to protect Delta fish so we must continue to conserve and protect our water resources.”
Just when will DWR declare that the drought is over? Will they wait until fields on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley are inundated with muddy, swirling flood waters so Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger can stage a photo opportunity in a boat as he declares a flood disaster – and proclaims that the only way to stop disastrous flooding is to build a peripheral canal and new dams and vote for the November water bond?” … “
Continue reading this commentary from Dan Bacher at IndyBay.org by clicking here.
Western Weather Blog: Weather throws us a knuckleball
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 5, 2010 at 8:17 am
From the Accu-Weather Western Weather Blog:
“With spring training getting underway, it’s appropriate to use a little baseball metaphor today, as I did in the headline. We all know that closed lows can be a weatherman’s woe. Computer models tend not to handle these well, and the next storm is no exception to the rule. I will try to get some glove on this storm, hoping not to boot it and make an unforced error.
Once again, I will show a satellite picture of the Pacific to get things started.
A mass of clouds off the Northwest coast on south with the back edge along 135W is the beginnings of this next storm. What is going to happen is that a lot of energy digging south on the western side of this trough will force a closed low to form by Friday morning just inside of 130W off the northern California coast. This low will then slowly dig almost due south a fair distance off the coast. … “
Read more from the Accu-Weather Western Weather Blog by clicking here.
Thursday’s top of scroll: Water supply – so far, snow good: Wet winter leaves Sierra snowpack above average
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 4, 2010 at 7:44 amFrom the San Francisco Chronicle:
“Californians are experiencing a unique kind of drought – one in which there appears to be plenty of water to squirt around.
Repeated deluges have replenished many reservoirs and blanketed the Sierra with snow, ensuring that there will be at least an average amount of runoff in the spring.
And the state’s third monthly survey of snow in the Sierra showed Wednesday that the water content of the snowpack is 107 percent of average statewide for this time of year. Last year at this time, it was just 80 percent of average.
Despite this bounty, the California Department of Water Resources is reluctant to declare an end to the state’s three-year drought.
“February was a below-average month” for rainfall and snow, explained David Rizzardo, the chief of snow surveys for the Department of Water Resources. “So if you look at that bigger picture, things haven’t improved. The recent storms have definitely slowed the bleeding of the drought, but we still have a good month of precipitation to go here before we can really determine where we stand.” … “
Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.
From the Silicon Valley Mercury News:
” … If wet weather continues, the department says the State Water Project will be able to deliver 35 percent to 45 percent of requested amounts of water.
But the water level is not enough to end the drought, said Frank Gehrke, Chief of California Snow Surveys. He explained that though the state didn’t lose any water content, it gained less than he hoped in the February because there were a few weeks without snow.
“We’re kind of marching in place in terms of what it means for reservoir recovery,” Gehrke said.
Despite recent storms, the water level at Lake Oroville, the principal storage reservoir for the State Water Project, was only at 55 percent of average for this time of year. … “
Read more from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.
MORE COVERAGE:
- Latest Snow Survey Offers Hope, from KQED’s Climate Watch
- San Jose rainfall remains above average; snowpack encouraging, from the Silicon Valley Mercury News
- Sierra snowpack above normal but more needed, from the Riverside Press-Enterprise
- NID Snow Survey: 92 Percent of Average Water Content, from YubaNet.com
- Press release: DWR announces third snow survey results
A look at snow surveys around the West
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 4, 2010 at 7:44 amSo how are our neighbors faring in their snow surveys? Not well, unfortunately….
From the Reno Gazette Journal:
” … On Wednesday, the Truckee River Basin’s snowpack was 88 percent of average for the date while the Lake Tahoe Basin’s snowpack was 91 percent, according to the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service. … “
From KIDK, Idaho Falls:
“Right now, the Idaho Falls/Snake River region’s snow pack is at 54-percent of normal for this time of year. While water is always a concern here in Eastern Idaho, and it’s always scary to hear these kinds of numbers; this issue, really isn’t one yet.
“I wouldn’t be overly worried about it yet. if the forecasts turn out right, it’ll be difficult for some water users, definitely. But, the reservoir system as a whole holds approximately 50% of an average run off from a system. So having that insurance really makes a big difference,” explains Joe Kaufman, a Water Engineer with the Department of Water Resources. … “
” … Colorado’s snowpack improved slightly last month, to 88 percent of average compared to 86 percent of average on Feb. 1, the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Colorado office reported on Wednesday. Year to date, snowpack is only 82 percent of last year’s totals as of March 1.
Due to the variability of weather patterns driven by the El Niño storm track, which has favored the southwest parts of the state, only two river basins are tracking above average. These are the Rio Grande basin, at 109 percent of average, and the combined San Juan, Animas, Dolores and San Miguel basin, which is 106 percent of average.
“Across northern Colorado, snowpack percentages remain well below average, having not tracked at these percentages since the drought year of 2002,” a press release from NRCS said. This includes the Colorado basin, of which the Roaring Fork Valley is a part. … “
From the Arizona Daily Star:
“The Colorado River that feeds the Central Arizona Project depends on heavy spring flows into Lake Powell at the Arizona-Utah border. But the spring runoff into the lake is now expected to be even less than predicted two months ago.
The federal Colorado River Basin Forecast Center predicted Wednesday that flows into Lake Powell for April through June will be about 5.4 million acre-feet, or about 68 percent of normal. The forecast was 78 percent of normal on Jan. 1 and dropped to 71 percent in mid-February. … “
Weather update: Thoughts on the Friday/weekend Storm
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 4, 2010 at 7:08 am
From the Accu-Weather Western Weather Blog:
“As another storm is moving through northern and central California now, and will then move into the Great Basin later tonight and tomorrow with its rain and snow, thoughts now turn to what the next storm will bring.
The next storm is another northern Pacific storm that will break off from the west-east jet stream and charge southeast toward Southern California. The early afternoon enhanced IR satellite picture shows this storm out around 45N and 153W.
The models have not been in very good agreement on the timing of the storm. I am sure that is a great surprise to many (heavy sarcasm warning in effect). … “
Read more from the Accu-Weather Western Weather Blog by clicking here.
This just in … DWR announces third snow survey results
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 3, 2010 at 1:56 pm
From the Department of Water Resources:
SACRAMENTO – Manual and electronic readings today indicate that water content in California’s mountain snowpack is 107 percent of normal for the date. This time last year, snow water content statewide was 80 percent of normal.
“Today’s readings boost our hope that we will be able to increase the State Water Project allocation by this spring to deliver more water to our cities and farms,” said Department of Water Resources (DWR) Director Mark Cowin. “But we must remember that even a wet winter will not fully offset three consecutive dry years or pumping restrictions to protect Delta fish so we must continue to conserve and protect our water resources.”
Lake Oroville, the State Water Project’s principal storage reservoir, is recovering slowly after three dry years. Despite recent storms, its storage level today is only
55 percent average for this time of year. It is also expected that dry soil conditions will absorb much of the snowpack’s water content that otherwise would help to replenish streams and reservoirs during the spring and early summer melt.
On February 26, the State Water Project allocation was increased from 5 to 15 percent of requested amounts. If wet weather continues, the final allocation this spring likely will be in the range of 35-45 percent of requested amounts. The figure will partially be determined by how the fishery agency restrictions on pumping are applied, which will determine how much flexibility DWR has to export water from the Delta.
In 2009, the State Water Project delivered 40 percent of customer requests. The federal Central Valley Project in 2009 was only able to deliver 10 percent of contracted amounts to some agricultural areas in the San Joaquin Valley. The reduced deliveries were due both to dry weather and fishery agency pumping restrictions to protect fish species; principally Delta smelt, salmon, and longfin smelt.
The average of final State Water Project allocations over the past 10 years has been 68 percent of the amount requested by the 29 public agencies with long-term contracts to purchase SWP water.
Results of today’s manual snow survey by the Department of Water resources off Highway 50 near Echo Summit are as follows:
Location Elevation
Snow Depth
Water Content
% of Long Term Average
Alpha 7,600 feet
74.3 inches
26.2 inches
94
Phillips Station 6,800 feet
76.3 inches
25.1 inches
102
Lyons Creek 6,700 feet
79.4 inches
26.9 inches
105
Tamarack Flat 6,500 feet
77.8 inches
26.2 inches
112
Electronic sensor readings show northern Sierra snow water equivalents at 126 percent of normal for the date, central Sierra at 93 percent, and southern Sierra at 109 percent. The sensor readings are posted at http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/snow/DLYSWEQ.
Importance of Snow Surveying
Snow water content is important in determining water supply. The measurements help hydrologists prepare water supply forecasts as well as provide others, such as hydroelectric power companies and the recreation industry, with needed data.
Monitoring is coordinated by the Department of Water Resources as part of the multi-agency California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program. Surveyors from more than 50 agencies and utilities visit hundreds of snow measurement courses in California’s mountains to gauge the amount of water in the snowpack.
The Department of Water Resources operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs.
Weather update: Rainfall season stats plus what’s ahead with the storms this week
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 2, 2010 at 7:45 amFrom the Accu-Weather Western Weather blog:
“February brought more El Nino weather to the West with drier than normal conditions from the Northwest into the central Great Basin and wetter than normal conditions over much of California and Arizona. This first chart shows how February compared to normal in the Northwest, Great Basin and Arizona and how these same areas are doing since October 1. The second chart shows how California is doing the entire rainfall season to date, July 1 to yesterday. [Charts available on the click-through.]
Both these charts should bring nothing surprising to most given what I had talked about for this Winter since last October. Seattle being wetter than normal was due mainly to an extremely wet November with more than 3 inches above normal rainfall. Though the season got off to a slow start for Arizona, January and especially February have brought a much brighter picture for rain and snow.
Now what is ahead this week? … “
Weather update: Big West Coast storm starts arriving
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 26, 2010 at 7:52 am
From the Accu-Weather Western Weather Blog:
“All along this week I have been talking about the end of the week storm as being the big one of the week. The details of this storm were the subject of my posting yesterday as well.
Those details in the way of rain and snow amounts really as not changed. Lets take yet another look at how the storm is looking on a Thursday afternoon satellite picture.
This is quite the developed storm and has plenty of moisture with it. This is not unexpected. But it is slower. … “
Find out the latest from the Accu-Weather Western Weather Blog by clicking here.
Weather update: Moderately strong storm to end the week
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 25, 2010 at 8:38 am
From the Accu-Weather Western Weather Blog:
“A cold upper level trough is nicely seen out around 40-45N and 155-165W with a well defined plume of moisture south and east of that.
Rain moves in first to the Northwest Thursday afternoon and night.
The rain will come down hard for a time along with gusty winds especially along the immediate coast and over the Cascades. Snow levels will be somewhat higher ahead of this storm ranging from 4,000 to 5,000 feet from north to south. The rain will taper to showers Friday while rain and snow showers fall east of the Cascades. … “
Find out more from the Accu-Weather Western Weather Blog by clicking here.
Weather update: Model mayhem equals changing forecasts
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 20, 2010 at 9:26 amFrom Accu-Weather’s Western Weather Blog:
“The models this week have been changing their look, not only daily, but a couple of times a day. It seems they all are having trouble handling the large high level blocking pattern we are currently in. This is frustrating to a meteorologist since it does not give us a lot of confidence about forecast being issued. It is probably equally frustrating to the public since you see vastly changing forecast on a daily forecast. Somehow I think both our frustrations are not going to be eased anytime soon.
The first storm we have been looking at is basically going to miss almost all of Central California as it is being forced to go much farther south due to the strong block. Here is a mid-Friday afternoon satellite picture showing the now cut off low sitting west of Pt. Conception. … “
Continue reading this post at the Western Weather Blog by clicking here.
Weather update: Stormy weather headed for the Southwest
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 19, 2010 at 7:54 am
From the Accu-Weather Western Weather blog:
“With a high level block setting up across northern North America we are possibly looking at a long period of stormy weather in the Southwest and central and southern Rockies. This kind of block can be pretty stable and remain for some time keeping the jet stream suppressed across the Pacific into the U.S.
A look at the Pacific satellite picture shows at least three storms. The first is just west of California, the second is centered out around 48N and 160 W and the third is just starting to show up west of the dateline.
The details of the first two storms are not too much in doubt. The first moves into California Friday and Friday night from north to south with some precipitation moving into Arizona and Utah Saturday. … “
Continue reading this post from the Accu-Weather Western Weather blog by clicking here.
Western Weather Blog: Snow – the haves and have nots so far
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 18, 2010 at 6:32 am
From the Accu-Weather Western Weather Blog:
“In a El Nino year the Northwest and northern Rockies tend to get less snow than normal while the Sierra and other Southwest mountain areas get more. This season, so far, fits right along with the norm. Here is a map of the West showing the snow depth compared to normal through this morning. This map is from the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center.
In general the blues are above normal snow depth while the yellows to oranges are below normal snow depth. The deeper the color the more above or below normal it is.
For water purposes this map is all great news. … “
Dramatic drought turnaround: Farmers and communities are relieved as much of the U.S. emerges from a deep drought, but still little drought relief on the Colorado
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 18, 2010 at 6:29 amFrom ABC News:
“Droughts seem like a foreign concept for many Americans used to seeing reports of them in poverty-stricken parts of the world, but many American farmers, communities and in some cases, entire states, have felt the effects of a serious lack of water since 2007. A new survey shows that 92 percent of the nation is drought-free.
But now, only about 7 percent of the country is experiencing drought conditions, down from a peak of close to 50 percent in August 2007. Only small parts of Hawaii are currently under “extreme” drought conditions.
“It was only last year that we were facing one of the worst droughts,” Doug LeCompte of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association told ABC News. “The worst drought in south central Texas since the mini dustbowl of 1950s, California was facing drought problems, and much of that has gone away.” … “
Well, sorta. Again, it isn’t what’s in the hills now that matters, but what’s left up there in the spring. Read more from ABC News by clicking here.
But not everyone’s out of the woods yet. From Waterblogged:
“While parts of Arizona slosh when the earth moves these days (watch a video here featuring Salt River Project’s intrepid snow surveyors, who have much to survey), the news farther north isn’t quite as soggy.
The Colorado River has not benefitted from this winter’s El Nino-fueled series of storms. In its latest report, the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center has adjusted its runoff projections downward slightly. The center predicts 5.8 million acre-feet of water will flow into Lake Powell from April through July, about 73 percent of the long-term average.
A month ago, the center was forecasting an April-July runoff of 6.2 million acre-feet, or 78 percent of the long-term average. That’s not a huge change, but it’s going in the wrong direction. … “
Read more from Waterblogged by clicking here.
Fading El Nino may last until spring
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 17, 2010 at 7:52 amFrom the O.C. Register’s ScienceDude:
“The U.S. Climate Prediction Center, which has issued confusing messages about El Nino since late last summer, now says the natural, periodic climate change is weakening, but it might last into spring, which begins on March 20. Earlier, forecasters thought El Nino would fade during the winter.
The latest prediction represents mostly good news for Orange County. The current El Nino hasn’t been especially strong. And it is impossible to tell how much strength El Nino contributes to any specific storm, if it contributes at all. … “
Read more from the Science Dude by clicking here.
Drought busted: As of last week, only about 7% of the contiguous USA was in a drought, in a few isolated spots in the interior West and upper Midwest
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 17, 2010 at 6:45 am
From the USA Today:
“What a difference a rain makes. The nationwide drought that had farmers, communities and entire states fighting to conserve water has reversed in the most dramatic turnaround since federal scientists began keeping records.
More than 92% of the country is drought-free — the nation’s best showing since 1999.
“The lack of drought is extraordinary,” said Douglas Le Comte, a meteorologist with the federal Climate Prediction Center.
At the worst of the USA’s most recent drought — in August 2007 — almost 50% of the country was involved. Currently, about 7% of the country is in a drought, according to federal scientists. The only part of the USA in “extreme” drought is a small fraction of Hawaii. … “
Read more from USA Today by clicking here.
Here comes another block, says the Accu-Weather Western Weather Blog
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 16, 2010 at 8:25 amI don’t know, it may be time to put away the sunblock as the temperatures around here in Southern California have been in the mid-70s to low 80s, but now meteorologist Ken Clarke is looking at a change in the wind:
“Some of the best weather in all the 50 states is in the Southwest right now, specifically the deserts of Arizona through southwest California. Yesterday and today temperatures hit, or surpassed, 80 in Southern California and more of the same is likely tomorrow. In fact dry weather will persist all week long.
Meanwhile the storm track has been aimed at the Northwest U.S. and southwest Canada, as anybody who has been watching the Winter Games knows. There is one more storm that moves in tonight and Tuesday in this area, especially western Washington and around the Vancouver area. After that it will be dry the rest of the week. As important, temperatures are likely to cool in the mountains, especially at night later this week.
The reason for the change is that another blocking high develops over western Canada and the eastern Gulf of Alaska. While this protects the Northwest it also opens up the Southwest for storms to return, just as I said last week. … “
So what’s in store for us? Check it out in the rest of this post from the Accu-Weather Western Weather blog.
Assemblymember Galgiani: We need emergency fixes to California’s water problems
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 13, 2010 at 8:20 am
From the Merced Sun-Star, this commentary by Assemblymember Galgiani:
“Although it is tempting to focus on the big solutions to “fix” our water problems, we now understand that emergency solutions are needed to address the crisis immediately.
As your assembly member, I am pleased to have been involved in recently achieving an emergency fix that will have an immediate effect on farmers impacted by the water shortage.
Working with the California Groundwater Association, I amended a bill, AB 1416, with emergency language to extend the implementation date of regulations by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) requiring all portable drilling rigs to be retrofitted with new less polluting diesel engines by Jan. 1.
As a result of my bill, CARB agreed to consider the issue at their Jan. 28 meeting where they approved an extension of the deadline for water well drillers to comply with new regulations. … “
Continue reading this commentary by Assemblymember Galgiani by clicking here.
Patt Morrison chats with Bill Patzert, SoCal’s weatherman
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 13, 2010 at 6:56 amFrom Patt Morrison at the LA Times:
“I’m always telling the skeptics that Los Angeles does too have four seasons: They’re called fire, flood, drought and quake.
We must have interesting weather — otherwise, why would an accomplished climatologist and oceanographer such as Bill Patzert want to work here? His title is research scientist at JPL, but during our many episodes of extreme weather, he’s practically the color commentator about California meteorology.
In his time he’s worked with Vice President Al Gore and NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, but he’s likely to pop up at a Kiwanis luncheon to talk about global warming, or at an elementary school classroom. Hence his favorite weather joke: Why do you have to be careful when it rains cats and dogs? Because you don’t want to step on the poodles!
Q. [Morrison] Why do people obsess about the weather?
A. [Patzert] Politics are complex, but weather — everybody thinks they’re an expert. … “
Read more from Patt Morrison at the LA Times by clicking here.
Pavley says rain didn’t end water crisis
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 13, 2010 at 6:44 amFrom the Ventura County Star:
“The recent heavy rains that drenched Ventura County and Southern California did not end the state’s drought, state Sen. Fran Pavley said Friday while discussing the state water crisis at a community meeting at the Agoura Hills-Calabasas Community Center.
“This always happens,” Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, chairwoman of the Senate Natural Resource and Water Committee, joked to a luncheon audience of several dozen people.
“I usually talk about the water crisis when it’s pouring rain. Well, not today, but despite the recent rain — I think we had 20 inches of rain out here — the drought is not over and the levees are still crumbling. We’re one earthquake away from that.
“Despite reservoirs starting to fill up this year, we can’t just unload all the water this year because we are in our third year of record drought,” she said.
Jeff Kightlinger, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, told the audience that the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in Northern California, a critical part of the system that delivers water to Southern California, is in crisis. … “
Read more from the Ventura County Star by clicking here.
Fallowed acreage doesn’t add up, says the On the Public Record blog
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 12, 2010 at 8:18 amFrom the On the Public Record blog:
“I got curious about fallowed acreage, since people keep saying different things. Sen. Feinstein, for example, said “over 400,000 acres of farmland have been fallowed.” So far as I know, that is mostly on the west side (hearing no anecdotes to the contrary). Westlands WD generously keeps their crop reports online (Westlands, then News & Information, then Reports, the Crop Acreage Reports). So I graphed them. Hmmm. …. “
Continue reading this post at the On the Public Record blog by clicking here.
Weather update: Pattern change a good thing
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 11, 2010 at 8:05 amFrom the Western Weather Blog:
“As I stated a couple of days ago Tuesdays into Wednesdays storm would be the last for the Southwest for some time to come and that it will become the Northwest turn to see more active weather. More storms for the Northwest and dry weather in the Southwest are all pretty much good things at this point. But do not worry California and Arizona. Another pattern change looks like it possible toward the end of next week or weekend back to stormier conditions again.
Three storms affect the Northwest through Friday bringing rain to areas west of the Cascades and snow in the Cascades, though snow levels will gradually climb with time. Storm number 4 looks like it will mainly affect Washington on Saturday. East of the Cascades, as it typically the case, precipitation will be lighter and more showery in nature. This stormier weather is also probably good news for the mountains east of Vancouver who could use some snow for a rather important sporting event getting underway soon. … “
Water-saving garden taking root in Santee
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 11, 2010 at 6:08 amFrom the San Diego Union Tribune:
“SANTEE — Drought-tolerant plants don’t have to be boring.
That’s the message behind a 15,000-square-foot garden opening next month outside the Padre Dam Municipal Water District headquarters in Santee. The 195 species include leafy trees, grasses that stay green with less watering and flowers in a rainbow of colors that sip water instead of guzzling it.
“This is going to be a discovery garden,” said Mike Uhrhammer, director of communications for the water district that serves about 100,000 people from Santee to Alpine to Harbison Canyon.
Uhrhammer said the permit for the district’s administration building, which opened in 2006, required putting in a drought-tolerant garden by 2011. The garden cost $175,000 to design and build, and will cost about $15,000 to $20,000 a year to maintain, he said. … “
Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune by clicking here.
When the snow turns into water: Gauging Big Bear’s snowpack
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 10, 2010 at 4:31 pmFrom the Big Bear Grizzly:
“High in the Sierras there are pillows on the ground. These aren’t your average pillows. Snow pillows are sensors that measure the Sierra snowpack, providing state water agencies with information on California’s biggest water source.
Meanwhile, in the San Bernardino Mountains, snow pillows or gauges are not the norm for measuring the snow as a source for the Big Bear Valley watershed.
“What we do is totally unofficial based on the official rain gauge at the dam,” said Bill LaHaye, water resource manager for the Big Bear Lake Department of Water and Power. “Up there they are in a much larger isolated area,” he said. “Here, it’s in our backyard.” … “
Read more from the Big Bear Grizzly by clicking here.
Weather update: One more Southwest storm, then a pattern change
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 9, 2010 at 8:09 amFrom Accu-Weather’s Western Weather Blog:
“An upper level trough off the Northwest Coast Monday afternoon will drop south Monday night. It will pinch off into a cold core upper level low off the Northern California Coast Tuesday morning. The rest of Tuesday and Tuesday night it continues to drop south near the coast before moving inland into San Diego County by Wednesday morning.
This is a far different storm than we have seen affecting the Southwest States over the past few weeks. This is not making its trek across the Pacific picking up a lot of moisture along its way. Instead it is starting with limited moisture and will rely on its cold core nature, and what moisture it can pick up as it moves south, to cause precipitation. There indeed could be a narrow band of precipitation develop Monday along a forming cold front that causes a period of rain in spots. But mostly this storm will be remembered as producing showers and in spots thunderstorms. For my Northwest folks this again is another storm that will for the most part miss doing anything important to your area. But keep reading for your turn will come later on. … “
Get more of the forecast from the Accu-Weather Western Weather Blog by clicking here.
El Niño just getting warmed up: Phenomenon expected to push storms this way
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 6, 2010 at 7:15 amFrom the San Diego Union Tribune:
“El Niño hasn’t been idle.
From San Diego to the Andes Mountains, from the American Southwest to the home of the Winter Olympics in British Columbia, the much-ballyhooed, periodic phenomenon has been strutting its stuff. And long-range forecasters say there’s a good chance this year’s episode, now classified as the fourth-strongest since 1950, still has plenty of rain and warmth to give.
“We’re just beginning to see the global pattern of El Niño impacts emerge,” said Mike McPhaden, a scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “El Niño has legs.” … “
Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune by clicking here.
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