Winter's Grip is Relentless.

These guys seem to like that steady light rain.

I keep suggesting that it is just one more small system and then we are in the clear.  And it should be that way.  Now, I think I will start taking about how this season is one for the record books.  We are clearly moving into the top ten for both snow fall and water, but if this stuff keeps up, we will be taking about breaking into the top five.  Or three.  Storms keep lining up and hitting us harder than modeled.  Here is what we can expect for the next few days.

The storm that gave the Bay Are fairly consistent moderate rain all morning and early afternoon moved onshore today earlier than expected, and before breaking apart.  What should have been sporadic showers for today and tomorrow, turned into rain for today, and we may still see some wrap around showers in the morning Wednesday.  And it will deliver a lot more punch to our east than what was expected even Tuesday.  The mountains look likely to receive snow from this one, and with the cold air it is packing, the freezing level will likely drop well below 6000 feet.  For June that is just unheard of.  Not a whole lot.  A few inches at 5500 feet and perhaps eight along the crest tomorrow.  But remember it is June, not January.

Thistle near 3 Mile Beach, Santa Cruz

Thursday looks decent. Mostly sunny and mid 60s.  But then things take a turn for the worse again, with more rain expected for Friday and the weekend.  Current models suggest showers for Friday, with steadier rain filling in over night.  Saturday looks wet to say the least with up to a half inch falling along the coast.  And this time, areas south of the city look to get hit just as hard as Marin.  Sunday will see more sporadic showers along the coast, but the inland valley and Sierra Neveda may see steady precipitation.  The coastal zone clears with slight warming for the early part of next week, but inclement weather could hang around the mountains through the middle of next week.  And that is why I am starting to think this is a boom year for rain and snow.  Over the next five days we could see a total of an inch of rain in Santa Cruz, 1.5" in San Franciso, over 2" in Medocino and 1.7" along the Sierra Crest.  Oh, that last one equals about 18" of snow.  The long term models and teleconnections do suggest a change should still occur after next week, but Ole Man Winter is not giving up easy.

All this rain and snow is good for something.  Kirkwood closed out there stellar season with a foot of fresh this past Sunday.  Reports from the lucky folk who ventured up were simple: epic.  The touring crowd is just getting started on what looks to be an epic spring (or should I say summer) season, as the high Sierra has one of the deepest and freshest snow packs in memory.  And the rain has certainly gotten us out of our drought.  Even better, in my estimate, it has kept the ground from getting too dry.  It has been a great year so far for the garden, with some really warm days, and plenty of nature's irrigation.  Now, if only things were to get hot like they were just about a month ago, my tomatoes would be super stoked.