Winter in the west

sawguy21 · December 27, 2015, 02:00:19 PM

I just wanted to show you easterners what you are missing out on. ;D

We had about 8" last night. This is close to the normal amount for this area. I have to get a set of chains, I got on the slope in front of the tractor and couldn't back up even with 4wd and the diff lock. Finally went down the driveway turned around and hit 'er at full speed, even at that I almost didn't make it.

beenthere · December 27, 2015, 02:15:55 PM

Now that's a toy. ;D

Sayin we may be getting something like that tomorrow.

Magicman · December 27, 2015, 02:23:06 PM

That is a cutie. ;)

Chuck White · December 27, 2015, 02:46:40 PM

Hey Sawguy21, we almost have twins, only mine is green!

Love it, nice outfit!

Jeff · December 27, 2015, 02:57:23 PM

Is this going to help with the drought?

sawguy21 · December 27, 2015, 04:42:04 PM

We sure hope so, last summer was mighty dry.

Ljohnsaw · December 27, 2015, 04:59:22 PM

A short course in the California Drought (no significant moisture in the last 3 years):

Down here in the Sacramento Valley, we have been getting quite a bit of rain and some snow in the mountains. To "end the drought", we need a significant amount of snow pack. The rain we are getting in the valley just runs out to the ocean. The snow is above the reservoirs. Most of the big reservoirs are way down - less than 20% of capacity, probably lower. The recent rains (last 4 or 5 weeks) has just about equalized the outflow from my local reservoir.

My cabin property is up at 5,800' elevation, the summit (I-80 Donner) is just over 7,000'. Mountain peaks are over 9,000'. To date, my property has received 6" snow/melted in a week, 8" - melted, 12" - mostly melted, 24-36" - mostly melted (rain for two days) and now another 18". This "climate change" is supposed to give us more moisture, only less in the form of snow. We used to have snow hanging around in the mountains until June - sometimes July. The gradual melt fills the lakes throughout the spring and summer.

The summit has several feet of snow right now. We "normally" get upwards of 20' up there before the season ends. Our "rainy season" is typically from November to April, sometimes May. We might see a sprinkle once or twice between June and October.

edkemper · January 02, 2016, 07:35:23 PM

Being that I lived in CA for 61 of almost 65 years. I have been over (bridges) Shasta Lake in northern CA many, many times. I have been shocked at how bad that area and the law looks. It looks almost like a grain of sand in the desert. As soon as the weather warms and some of the snow melts, we are thinking of driving over to Shasta just to see if the lake has risen.

Fires this last season in my old hunting grounds and the like have definitely changed the look. Terrible to see such a wonderful place like Shasta Lake look so small and empty for so long. We're getting great drought recovery weather up above you and it appears it'll be keep getting to you for a bit.