Drought-denting rains, feet of mountain snow to plaster West Coast

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Washington Post

Capital Weather Gang

Drought-denting rains, feet of mountain snow to plaster West Coast

Up to 10 feet of snow is expected in the Sierra Nevada, crucial for water resources in the drought-riddled region

By Matthew Cappucci
Today at 1:06 p.m. EST

California and the West Coast remain entrenched in a crippling drought that’s left some reservoirs dry and vegetation desiccated, but the atmosphere will deliver another welcome dose of water this week. A soaking slug of heavy rain and feet of mountain snow will plaster the western United States, with up to 10 feet of accumulation and blizzard conditions in the mountains amid a replenishing of the Sierra Nevada’s snowpack. The storm could bring issues for holiday travelers, however.

Winter storm watches span the length of the Sierra Nevada, where hurricane-force winds will also combine with the snow to bring near-zero visibilities. In the Cascades, winter storm warnings have been issued. Freezing fog was already affecting parts of Northern California and the Great Basin of Nevada early Monday, an undesirable prelude to an extended period of inclement weather.

Surf’s up on the ice-cold waters of Lake Erie
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/12/20/erie-surf-lake-winter/

The National Weather Service is warning of “major travel disruptions” likely in the West, writing that Monday “is the last ‘all clear’ weather travel day.” AAA is estimating that more than 109 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2, a spike of 34 percent over last year.

{snip}

Matthew Cappucci is a meteorologist for Capital Weather Gang. He earned a B.A. in atmospheric sciences from Harvard University in 2019, and has contributed to The Washington Post since he was 18. He is an avid storm chaser and adventurer, and covers all types of weather, climate science, and astronomy. Twitter https://twitter.com/MatthewCappucci

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/12/20/snow-california-storm-west/

[Lasher]

1. Looks hopeful.

Here's another source:

California’s Stormy Christmas Week Could Dump Up to 10 Feet of Sierra Snow

There has been some better news recently regarding California's drought.

Over the past couple of weeks, a pair of storms have dumped feet of snow in the Sierra, taking what had been paltry snowpack after a dry November to one that is near average for this time of year.

Sierra snowpack typically supplies about one-third of California's water once it melts later in spring and summer, recharging the state's reservoirs.

But many of the state's reservoirs are still running lower than usual after the almost two-year drought.

This wet Christmas week certainly won't erase the drought in California, or elsewhere in the West. It will take a sustained wetter winter and spring to move the state - and the West in general - out of this current drought.

https://www.wunderground.com/article/safety/winter/news/2021-12-20-california-storm-rain-sierra-snow-christmas

[BumRushDaShow]

2. "Surf's up on the ice-cold waters of Lake Erie"

These people are crazy. Lake Erie is a source of "lake effect snow" that sometimes even sends snow streamers down as far SE as here in Philly (we had some of its wayward streamers resultingin some flurries at the end of November).





Otherwise, I'm glad that the west coast is getting a good amount of precipitation during their "wet season". The hope is that they can hold that snowpack through the winter and not have it melt off if a ridge suddenly forms over the west coast.

[Lasher]

4. Looks like fun, I guess.

But not for me, thank you very much.

Lake Eerie was once so polluted it would catch on fire. But today it is a real success story, having been cleaned up remarkably.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. They could have gone another couple hundred miles SE

and hit the Jersey shore where the water near the coast is a few degrees warmer than Erie plus there are real waves!

I know in school while growing up, we were always taught that Lake Erie was "Pennsylvania's Great Lake", although obviously it borders several other states. Having been born and raised in PA, I finally got to see Lake Erie - but on the OH side in Cleveland. It was still a nirvana to get to see it.

[wryter2000]

3. OMG, please

I'm sorry for people trying to travel, and I sure hate to see hurricane force winds. But the rain is so efffing welcome. It looks as if the rain might continue for over a week. Please excuse me if I say, "Praise the Lord." Disclaimer: that is not meant to be literal or religious. It just feels so good to say that.

10 feet of snow. Melted snow is our source of water during the spring and summer.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

10. I too am very excite! Cali needs it big time!

[Quakerfriend]

5. Wow, 10 ft. Of snow! I can't imagine- I was stranded on a chairlift for 6 hours

@ Heavenly on Christmas Day 1980 after a 3 ft. snow storm- will never forget it!

[Igel]

7. Droughts are funny things, as are their consequences.

I moved to LA in the early '90s when there was water rationing and a long-standing drought.

Couldn't go anywhere for winter break, had to stay in Hershey Hall, the graduate dorm. And meal plan was up on "the hill," the undergrad dorms. Meaning I had to trek up Bruin Walk to get there. More than once it was raining hard, for the first time in many a month, and had no choice but to let the water sluice over my shoes.

There was flooding and widespread complaints. And months later, people still complained about the flooding. (Then there were the fires, because a lot of that water became plant, and privileged people in the expensive Malibu hills had to rebuild their privileged expensive houses. Boo-hoo.)

Nobody was glad that there was flooding, the reduction in water conservation measures were just par for the course. Pain remembered, pain mitigation ignored.

This is a good thing. Me likes snow-pack. I betcha skiing's going to be great at Big Bear.

[C Moon]

8. I don't recall the last time we got this much rain in December (or rainy days, I should say)...

we've had heavier rainfall in the past, but that's okay as long as our mountains get snow.

[bahboo]

9. We are all of us here in SoCal...

very grateful for the rain...

[BuddhaGirl]

11. Bay Area here

Thank goodness, we need it!!

[rollin74]

12. can't wait for this

there was a pretty big storm last week too

so far, this winter season is looking to be better than most in recent years. It will be nice to look out and see a nice consistent snowpack in the Sierra throughout the winter (fingers crossed)

the driving conditions might suck for a while but this type of storm is very much needed. Especially after the past dreadful summer of non-stop fires and smoke

[inthewind21]

14. Meanwhile in N Nevada...

I live within 10 miles of the CA border in Far North Reno, the Sierra foothills elevation 5100 ft. Supposed to snow for the next 8 days. This morning was freezing fog. We'll definitely have a white Christmas!

[rollin74]

15. I also live in the Reno area

the freezing fog certainly has been unusual and kind of beautiful

I'm not far above the valley floor of the Truckee Meadows, about 4500 foot level, so probably won't be too much snow around my house

hoping the forecasts are accurate and they get LOTS of snow up in the mountains

[GB_RN]

13. Still Going To Need A Crap-Ton Of Snow...

In the Rockies before this thing will be over: With Lake Meade at record low levels, and falling, I don’t know that even 10 feet of snow in one month would make a dent.