Just getting started... Sun by Tuesday.

Yeah.  It is raining out there.  Been pretty steady since Tuesday evening.  Today is a bit lighter than yesterday, but the real heavy stuff is still to come.  Another wave fills in today, with tow more hot on its heals.  Moderate rain turns to heavier rain as the second wave moves through early Friday morning.  Then a third wave is accompanied by a pretty strong cold front.  Late Friday, and into Saturday morning we will see the heaviest rain period of the winter thus far.  Keep an eye out for urban flooding, and if you plan to be on the roads anywhere, please slow down and be super careful.  And if headed to the snow, look at my last post.  Be prepared.  Don't be a Donner.

Bluebird powder days are not coming this weekend.  Maybe Tuesday.  Near Kirkwood, California.

Another inch of rain will fall in Santa Cruz during the strongest wave late Friday through Saturday morning.  Today will see a high in the mid 60s, Saturday in the low 50s.  I did mention a cold front.  It will be a chilly and wet weekend.  Sunday will not be quite as cold, not quite as wet.  But it won't be warm and sunny.  We will need to wait till Tuesday for something that resembles that.  Monday will continue showery, cloudy and cool with highs maybe in the mid 50s.  Tuesday and Wednesday will break into the 60s and the sun just may come out and shine for a few days.  After that, it looks like we could have another series of storms creep south by Friday.  We will need to watch and wait.  More rain through months end.  Finally, we are getting our share.

Surf is pretty much victory at sea with all of these storms running up on top of us.  Even if you can find a protected cove that is working, keep in mind that we have a ton of rain water run off right now, and because we have not had a lot of rain, that water will contain a lot of junk.  Think of it as not flushing the toilet for a while, then... you get the point.  The ocean is pretty crappy right now.  Best bet for outdoor fun, if you can handle the hellish drive, it to get some snow.  Sunday if best bet for decent road conditions, lifts running and a mix of snow surfaces.  If you are the storm day riding powder hound, you may prefer Saturday, but expect road and lift closures to hamper the fun.  Or put on a slicker and get out for a walk in the forest.  It is Ewok magical out there right now.  Watch out for fairy dust.

Rain, and more rain.  Things get wetter.  The past few days were just a tease.  Heavier rain by Friday morning.  Even wetter by afternoon.  Dropping temperatures.  Snow levels below 5000 feet by Saturday.  Lighter, more showery weather Sunday.  Powder day.  Showers last through Monday.  Then we get a break for a few days.  Time to stroll West Cliff, cause more rain to follow.