We didn't write about the last round of storms that blew through the area earlier this week, but a reader caught the rainfall numbers recorded at the automated weather station at L.A. County Fire Station 62 on Mills Ave. just south of Mt. Baldy Rd.
The reader pegged the rainfall between last Thursday and 9pm Monday evening at nearly five inches:
DATE: Monday, February 9, 2009 9:02 PM
SUBJECT: Rainfall
TO: Claremont Buzz
Hi Buzz -
I think I'm recalling this correctly, but I'm not sure. Last Thursday just before the storms, the Claremont weather station that you've publicized before had our rain total at 6.68 inches (might have been 6.86). Now (Mon 9pm) under a clear sky it's at 11.79. That's a lot of good moisture.
And there's more to come beginning Friday and Saturday from what the forecasters are telling us.
The latest storms brought much more than rain to our area. The snow levels were down quite low, and, after the clouds lifted late Monday afternoon, Mt. Baldy and the surrounding mountains were fully clad in white. The front page of Tuesday's Los Angeles Times had a stunning photo by Allen J. Schaben shot from Huntington Harbour looking north to the San Gabriel Mountains.
We couldn't find the photo posted on the Times website, but here's a shot of the front page:
Click to Enlarge
Even with all the rain, water experts are saying that Northern California precipitation is still woefully below normal for this time of year. The Aquafornia blog, which covers California water issues, explained why Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called for water rationing on Monday despite the recent heavy rains:
23% of Los Angeles’ water comes from Owens Valley, and 67% comes from Metropolitan, according to the Los Angeles Times article. Metropolitan’s water supplies include groundwater, Colorado River Aqueduct, and the State Water Project. Metropolitan has rights to 47% (2 MAF [million acre-feet]) of water from the State Water Project and 1.2 MAF of Colorado River water, plus groundwater.
The good news is that this year, the snowpack is looking good for the Colorado River basin. The okay news is that the Eastern Sierra and the Owens Valley are classified as moderate drought to abnormally dry. But the bad news is that Northern California, the source for the State Water Project, is considered in “extreme drought”.
So, although Southern California is getting plenty of precipitation, it doesn’t do a lot for the water supply as most of it flows right out to the ocean. Northern California’s precipitation is still below normal, at least according to this drought monitor. It’s from last Tuesday, so it doesn’t include the recent storms which have brought some rain and snow to Northern California. There might be some improvement in the next one.
The State of California's Department of Water Resources has a website with all sorts of drought information, including a graphic, current as of February 1st, showing the water levels at the state's main reservoirs:
Click to Enlarge
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