Frighteningly Dry Weather

[HUMPH]

So here we are in mid-January and no rain still. Last year saw rain amounts between 8" and 13" here in the Bay Area for the entire calendar year. Our lakes are shrinking very fast and there is no natural snow in the mountains. I saw on the news that bears are confused so they aren't even hibernating.

Southern California (bastards) have voted to take whatever water we have here through a tunnel system that was approved by voters (SoCal voters mainly). This is beginning to be a very bad situation here. We are in a fire alert here which is highly unusual during the middle of Winter. One island in the Delta is burning right now and most of Northern California is on fire alert.

This seemed appropriate to post since this is affecting many lake boaters in this region. If the rains don't catch up to the impending drought, many lakes will be impossible to boat on soon. 2013 is now listed as the driest year in recorded history. I like to tease about how nice it is here this Winter but we are all becoming very nervous about the thought of water rationing due to the current situation. Has anyone in the other areas of the Country had to experience such drought conditions?

 

[Summer Fun II]

Ken, We're on the other side of the drought/rain coin.

Its been raining here for the past 3 days and its 40*F !!. :wow:

We have so much extra water here we don't know what to do with it.

 

[Lucky's]

We had 17" of rain in 10 hrs last week and this is supposed to be the dry season. This past summer was one of the wettest on record here. Wish we could share some.

 

[Joe5.0]

The Great lakes have been at or near chart datum for the past couple years, with 2012 being VERY bad. Here's hoping the rain gods help you out a bit.

Now you kinda know what it feels like when everyone wants to put a pipeline in from Lake Michigan to the southwest. Its a desert for a reason........

 

[trit21]

BUT, even though we have had rain here in FL, in past years we have been very very dry in the state. It comes in cycles and even though your news is reporting armageddon, it will turn around. One year I thought the entire state was on fire it was so dry here. I wish you the best and hope you get some rain quick.

 

[Newman]

Someone was telling me that Lake Mead is also at dangerous leaves and might affect the power production at Hover. Anybody know more about this?

 

[Bob & Sue]

We've had below rainfall last year either it's pouring for a record month or it's freezing cold with winds and fog we're about 8" below normal the first snow just hit the mountains last week. It seems like the high or low pressure is sitting off our coast pushing the cold east and the warm dry air your way. A couple years ago we had record low rainfall the next was record high. As far as SoCal taking your water that sucks their draining you and the Colorado dry for the farmers, it won't be long before we start having water wars, waters worth more than gas. Hope you guys get some rain soon. We're thinking of taking the Coast Starlight train down to the Bay area in the next couple months spending a couple days in San Francisco and Tiburon if things work out.

 

[HUMPH]

Come on down, the salt water is still fine! Check out these two shots of Lake Folsom near Sacramento. The top is now and the bottom is normal or full.

 

[Westie]

Mount Washington on Vancouver island has just opened now. They were closed because of lack of snow. Normally they would have over 250 cm (about 8 feet) of snow this time of the year.

 

[HUMPH]

Check out the web cam from Heavenly. This time of year everything should be white as can be!

http://www.skiheavenly.com/video-and-interactive/web-cams.aspx

 

[HUMPH]

Well, I guess all of the rain dances that we all did for the last few months worked! We have had more rain in the last week than in the prior 10 months before it seems. Now the talking heads are sensationalizing possible flooding? Good lord...

 

[Steve Franklin]

What's it take to make you no. Cal. Boys happy.glad you got some rain, send some our way Steve

 

[NorCal Boater]

It could have waited another week. I have family coming this week.

 

[Just For Fun]

I noticed that the "Lake Mead" posts drop off in the 2014 or earlier.

I'm planning on having my boat in the Sept. Oct timeframe and am looking at the Lake Havasu or Lake mead areas for mooring and cruising for several months of the year. The plan is to be there one long weekend per month. I'll be driving up from the southern CA area.

Any current updates as to the water height and general boating in that area would be greatly appreciated.