Let it Rain!!!

[mike carey]

We've had a reasonably dry September and October, an el niño predicted and hence a dry summer. The October average maximum has been 5°C above the long term average. In contrast with the first two months of spring the last couple of days have had consistent rain, 50mm so far and likely the 100mm predicted by the weather bureau. It's raining now at 2am. In the face of drought and a severe fire season this has been great. It could all change if the rain stops and the bush and the grassland grows because of the rain, but so far so good! For the moment things are looking good as we move into summer!

[+ deej]

They're forecasting this El Nino to be a "Godzilla El Nino". While we desperately need the rain in So Cal, where we've been in severe drought for many years, the ensuing flooding, mudslides (particularly in burn areas) and damage is troublesome.

 

And of course El Nino is often followed by La Nina, which just brings more drought.

 

But yes, let it rain! We need the water!

[mike carey]

Yes, Deej, the rain here has been gentle but persistent so no flooding (so far) or mudslides, about 60mm (2.2 inches) so far, and still raining. And yes, we need the rain!

[rvwnsd]

They're forecasting this El Nino to be a "Godzilla El Nino". While we desperately need the rain in So Cal, where we've been in severe drought for many years, the ensuing flooding, mudslides (particularly in burn areas) and damage is troublesome.

 

And of course El Nino is often followed by La Nina, which just brings more drought.

 

But yes, let it rain! We need the water!

 

Yes, Deej, the rain here has been gentle but persistent so no flooding (so far) or mudslides, about 60mm (2.2 inches) so far, and still raining. And yes, we need the rain!

 

Thanks to paving over parts of the San Diego River (and I don't mean the river bottom, I mean the entire river) the Mission Valley area of San Diego floods when someone sneezes. Nonetheless, it will be nice to get the rain. If only we had the facilities to capture that water and store it for when we have a drought.

[rguer]

Nonetheless, it will be nice to get the rain. If only we had the facilities to capture that water and store it for when we have a drought.

 

Yes, the rain would be most helpful if it falls into the catchment area of the California Aqueduct and the Colorado River.

[sincitymix]

I think its going to be really bad, mainly due to the parched dry desiccated soil that will get hit by all this moisture. I foresee massive mudslides and disasters.

[rvwnsd]

Yes, the rain would be most helpful if it falls into the catchment area of the California Aqueduct and the Colorado River.

If only we could direct the rain to that area and away from everywhere else.

[sincitymix]

If only we could direct the rain to that area and away from everywhere else.

all these states being hit by massive flooding... shame we don't have some sort of national waterworks channels that can direct all that wonderful water from these flood ravaged states to the parts of the US that needs the water.

[+ deej]

Texas will be more than happy to sell the state of California all of this water we've been provided

 

I remember someone running the numbers on what it would cost to melt the mountains of snow that fell on Boston and ship it to the west coast. The result was so IMMENSELY impractical it put any discussion of shipping water off the table, and shipping ALL OF IT would handle well less than 1% of the need.

 

We need the water desperately, but the only cost-effective way to get it is from rain.

[Kevin Slater]

We need the water desperately, but the only cost-effective way to get it is from rain.

 

Or rather, snow. Apparently it's the snow pack that really feeds the state, as most rain just goes to run off.

 

Kevin Slater

[+ purplekow]

Well you could close your borders to the rest of the US, stop encouraging people to come to California and get rid of the lawns and pools. The drought is not really a drought, it is cyclic California weather with too many people there and imported vegatation

[+ deej]

Or rather, snow. Apparently it's the snow pack that really feeds the state, as most rain just goes to run off.

 

Right, but since rainy season in CA is also known as winter the rain is usually accompanied by snow.

 

We'll take either one!