Recent Rains

[pixelfrog]

Anyone know if the past few days of rain have raised water levels in the state significantly or at all?

Hope so!!!!

Pix

[joebartels]

According to FOX news

SRP will be cutting water allotment in January by a third
Said something about a business is currently allowed 3 acres of water and it will go down to 2
This is only the second time they've done this since the 1950's
It will take double then average snow pack this winter to bring the state back to normal

Keep in mind this drought has been going on for a long time
We had those three months of steady rain November 2000 - January 2001
which made for an incredible wildflower season
but things were bone dry for years before and since then

Here's a June 12th photo from 2000, Bartlet Lake was down 30-50 feet
http://hikearizona.com/phoZOOM.php?ZIP=1134

I believe the water level is noticeably down in this photo
http://hikearizona.com/phoZOOM.php?ZIP=1138

[Jim]

The recent rains made no apparent dent in the current drought monitor, but things are pretty wet around here. Ski the Lemmon opened today, and lots of places recorded very substantial Sunday to Wednesday totals. What are your thoughts on rain? Is it wet? Does it make you feel happy, or sad? Do you want more, or less?

[Jim]

Ski the Lemmon reports 12 inches from the last storm. Maybe they'll be open for a few weeks to a month, this year? I've had enough of the recent rain, but saying that out loud is practically against the rules.

[Jim]

Unexpectedly heavy recent rain today. Heading towards 1/2 an inch in my vicinity. Guess the poppies will be popping next week.

[JimmyLyding]

@Jim_H
It doesn't look like Arizona has much snow cover, but I don't know how today's view is compared to 'normal' for this time of year. I also don't know how current the map is for all areas though the information button indicates it's pretty current. California is looking good, but we'll know more after the 4/1 snow survey. We were well above 200% of average last year and I'm guessing we'll be a bit above 100% this year unless we get a nice late March storm. It's warming up here in the Bay Area, but nighttime lows are projected to be in the 40s for the next 10 days so snow melt in the Sierra Nevada should be slow for a while. The big keys for us are whether we get storms in late March and April like we normally do, and how those storms are. I always appreciate rain courtesy of being an Arizona native, but I'd prefer it to not be warm pineapple express rain falling on snow with air temps in the 50s. Then it's time for sandbags.

USFS Snow Cover site:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 45012.html

[Jim]

@JimmyLyding
Not a lot, but seems to be where it matters. I still had snow today in the Ritas, but didn't want any.

[Jim]

Ski the Lemmon closed this week. Looks like Tucson's ski season has ended. Makes sense, actually, as April is 10 days off. AZ Snow bowl had a bumper season last year, but reports 68 inches of snow less than their seasonal total average. I wonder if they will remain open past their traditional early April closing?

[Nighthiker]

C Cragin Reservoir (Blue Ridge) is now full, do not know the Current status of other lakes above the Rim.

[RedRoxx44]

According to the flower fields I have visited there has been plenty of rain in all the right places!

[chumley]

@Nighthiker
Woods willow bear are full. Knoll wasn’t there yet at last visit. Chevelon looked good from the plane. Haven’t been by the mormon marys. Generally great conditions as one would expect after a 2nd consecutive above average winter season.

[RedRoxx44]

not Az but I think along the Potash road outside of Moab utah, a few days ago. Amazing video-- [ youtube video ]
Also I won't link it but look up 'Moab Monsoon Madness" on insta from Outside magazine. Another interesting one is some guy rapping by a huge monsoon fed waterfall in Moab.