Welcome to May, Sunny and Warm for Now.

Wow. What a start to May. I spent the weekend up at the Sierra Crest and there is an amazing amount of snow out there. Best coverage I have seen in years, and this week is looking to have an epic corn cycle. If you are at all interested in ski touring, this is the season to get it on. And the big lines are still filled in, so you can send it. Just remeber to wear plenty of sunblock and chap stick. Oh, my burnt lips.

With excellent weather this past weekend and forecast for this week, it may be a surprise to here what the charts have in store for us. Sun and warmth should be consistent down in the Bay Area this week, with a slight dip in high temperatures on Tuesday. Almost unnoticeable. In the hills and mountains there is a strong wind today and tomorrow's highs should be 10-15F cooler than today. Temperatures to rebound by Friday, with slight warming each day.

Today is a bit breezy through the local hills and out on the ocean. For you surfers, expect those NW winds to blow strong all week (strongest through Wednesday). So, plenty of chop and a little building wind swell. Hey, it is spring. What did you expect. Not much wind to be felt in the lower and protected elevations.

The big news is the chance for rain and showers as early as this Sunday. Not all models are in agreement, especially with timing of this potential system. Just because it is May, don't mean nothing. Expect the chance of a moderate system to drop out of the Gulf of Alaska as early as mid day Sunday and lasting trough Wednesday. Best bet is for sporadic showers to start late Monday and last through Tuesday afternoon. All and all, I'd expect no more than a 1/2 inch of rain. Just the right amount to keep those mountain bike trails smooth and tacky.

Water year is looking, well variable. The California Nevada River Forecast Center has their April Outlook available. This was published on April 8th, so a lot has changed since then. The May report is expected out soon. Regardless, this is the best season we have had in years, and at least has made a dent in our shortages.

To wrap it up - beautiful through at least Saturday. Then increasing clouds and chance of rain through mid next week. Most likely, sun to follow. Long term - chance of storms to persist into early June. We may even get enough to keep the hills green and the dust down.