We are getting the usual radio traffic relative to a good snowstorm, but its not the first time this season. Several days ago there was a nuisance type storm that resulted in chain restrictions on U.S. 395 and the upper portion of CA Highway 203. Lots of spinouts, vehicles without chains, vehicles sliding off the road, people pulled to the side of the road needing help and the like. This storm was so well publicized and predicted that most of the unprepared and unknowledgeable folks must have stayed home. It rained steady and at times a little hard yesterday and steady all night. This morning I thought it stopped raining and might be clearing up, this between 0730 and 0830. I had the blinds shut and was watching a bit of YouTube. Then I looked out the window and it was snowing wet and sloppy. Snowflakes like feathers falling hard at a rate of about 2" per hour.
The upper layer of soil is soaked and this storm will lay down a wet and relatively warm layer of snow that will consolidate into a great base. If the snowpack continues to deepen this winter, that warm layer at the bottom will be full of vapor pressure that will migrate to colder snow and result in an unstable and weak layer. The soil being so thoroughly soaked just before wet snow being laid on top of it will provide a great deal of moisture that will provide a great deal of water vapor to destabilize colder snow deposited (hopefully!) later in the winter. Heavy rain to high elevations that then turns to wet, heavy snow immediately is not real common, which is a result of warmer temperatures. You have to observe and note what the snow is like as each storm comes through in order to keep track of the snowpack and how stable it is. This has to be combined with digging 4 foot or more deep snow pits and carefully examine the snow and its layers. This is all part of avalanche hazard analysis. Those people cross country skiing, backcountry snowboarding and snowmobiling should take avalanche awareness training before venturing out and be cognizant of this uncommon layering that might be developing in this winter's snowpack. It could add up to something significant late in the season, although only time will tell.
For those who are jumping up to declare an end to the state's drought, sit down and wait. This atmospheric river (AR) event is likely short lived and the firehoses they can point at the state can end at any time with the rest of the winter being dry. I've seen this happen many times. It's going to take many average and especially above average years, to get us out of this drought. There are a lot of aquifers that need filling and that takes time and a lot of precipitation to accomplish. Don't count your snowflakes until they land on the ground.
YEAH! The Bobcat mounted snow blower just started in my driveway, first time this season. I wish I wasn't so old now as I can't take long overnight ski trips with a heavy pack anymore. My days of trans Sierra ski trips are now gone.
Now it's time to punch in the business banks or groups in my scanners and listen to the snow removal outfits here in town. I listen to Caltrans year long so I'm tuned into the haps there.
The upper layer of soil is soaked and this storm will lay down a wet and relatively warm layer of snow that will consolidate into a great base. If the snowpack continues to deepen this winter, that warm layer at the bottom will be full of vapor pressure that will migrate to colder snow and result in an unstable and weak layer. The soil being so thoroughly soaked just before wet snow being laid on top of it will provide a great deal of moisture that will provide a great deal of water vapor to destabilize colder snow deposited (hopefully!) later in the winter. Heavy rain to high elevations that then turns to wet, heavy snow immediately is not real common, which is a result of warmer temperatures. You have to observe and note what the snow is like as each storm comes through in order to keep track of the snowpack and how stable it is. This has to be combined with digging 4 foot or more deep snow pits and carefully examine the snow and its layers. This is all part of avalanche hazard analysis. Those people cross country skiing, backcountry snowboarding and snowmobiling should take avalanche awareness training before venturing out and be cognizant of this uncommon layering that might be developing in this winter's snowpack. It could add up to something significant late in the season, although only time will tell.
For those who are jumping up to declare an end to the state's drought, sit down and wait. This atmospheric river (AR) event is likely short lived and the firehoses they can point at the state can end at any time with the rest of the winter being dry. I've seen this happen many times. It's going to take many average and especially above average years, to get us out of this drought. There are a lot of aquifers that need filling and that takes time and a lot of precipitation to accomplish. Don't count your snowflakes until they land on the ground.
YEAH! The Bobcat mounted snow blower just started in my driveway, first time this season. I wish I wasn't so old now as I can't take long overnight ski trips with a heavy pack anymore. My days of trans Sierra ski trips are now gone.
Now it's time to punch in the business banks or groups in my scanners and listen to the snow removal outfits here in town. I listen to Caltrans year long so I'm tuned into the haps there.
