California Snow & Rainfall 2016/2017 (San Jose, Oakland: move to, trees, park)

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by Chimérique

I've noticed that places that normally get below 20 inches/per year tend to be sensitive to rain(which is 2/3 of California and 97% of the population). And that sensitivity increases for every inch below 20 and that sensitivity is "exponential" for places that average below 15 inches, 10 inches and so on.

Because we get most of our rain in a 4-6 month period and we are absent of rain for more than half the year plays into our sensitivity to rain.

No way 97% of CA get less than 20 in. of rain. That may have been true during the drought but the coast at least to Monterey and Sierra Foothills, much of the Sierras themselves and the northern parts of the valley already make up at least 40% of the land. There are even wet spots in dry areas like Palomar Mountain in San Diego County that average 40 inches.

[Chimérique]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

No way 97% of CA get less than 20 in. of rain. That may have been true during the drought but the coast at least to Monterey and Sierra Foothills, much of the Sierras themselves and the northern parts of the valley already make up at least 40% of the land. There are even wet spots in dry areas like Palomar Mountain in San Diego County that average 40 inches.

I meant 97% of the POPULATION, not by land, gets less than 20 inches.

And of course that was a rough guess. So where do they average over 20 inches: the Sierras, Sierra foothills, parts of the Central Coast, the North Coast, Northern Sacramento Valley, the Cascades.....that's no more than 10% of the POPULATION.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by Chimérique

I meant 97% of the POPULATION, not by land, gets less than 20 inches.

And of course that was a rough guess. So where do they average over 20 inches: the Sierras, Sierra foothills, parts of the Central Coast, the North Coast, Northern Sacramento Valley, the Cascades.....that's no more than 10% of the POPULATION.

I tried so hard to figure a way out for you to be wrong but I can't. The only large cities I can think of that get more than 20 inches of rain a year are San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley, where I've spent half my life. Redding too I guess. Even nearby San Jose only gets about 13 inches so you're right and I stand corrected

[Chimérique]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

I tried so hard to figure a way out for you to be wrong but I can't. The only large cities I can think of that get more than 20 inches of rain a year are San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley, where I've spent half my life. Redding too I guess. Even nearby San Jose only gets about 13 inches so you're right and I stand corrected

I'm interested in California weather, particularly to dispel mis-information about certain cities, and regions. I'm interested in precipitation and micro-climates and how various cities/regions differ from each other, both subtle differences and large differences. Like how Bay Area cities including Sacramento have very cool summer evenings, nights, and mornings. Like how Long Beach and Santa Barbara tend to get the most rain in SoCal while San Diego tends to always be the driest. Like where in the North Coast receives the most sun, and the least rain, and so and so.

I'm looking for percent of normal(snowpack) for the Cascades: Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen.

The Sacramento River is the only large River in California that captures both the Cascades and the Sierra's, so I'm looking for percent of normal(snowpack) for the Cascades: Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen.

The upper Sacramento River's source is Mt. Shasta(Cascades) and is joined by the Northern and Central Sierra's main river sources: The Feather River, The Yuba, The American which all feed into the Sacramento River. All these rivers are looking very healthy and full!

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by Chimérique

I'm interested in California weather, particularly to dispel mis-information about certain cities, and regions. I'm interested in precipitation and micro-climates and how various cities/regions differ from each other, both subtle differences and large differences. Like how Bay Area cities including Sacramento have very cool summer evenings, nights, and mornings. Like how Long Beach and Santa Barbara tend to get the most rain in SoCal while San Diego tends to always be the driest. Like where in the North Coast receives the most sun, and the least rain, and so and so.

I'm looking for percent of normal(snowpack) for the Cascades: Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen.

The Sacramento River is the only large River in California that captures both the Cascades and the Sierra's, so I'm looking for percent of normal(snowpack) for the Cascades: Mt. Shasta and Mt. Lassen.

The upper Sacramento River's source is Mt. Shasta(Cascades) and is joined by the Northern and Central Sierra's main river sources: The Feather River, The Yuba, The American which all feed into the Sacramento River. All these rivers are looking very healthy and full!

Microclimates, that phenomenon that bewilders newcomers from the Midwest and east coast. Boulder Creek is about 30 miles or so from San Jose which gets 13 inches of rain a year but BC gets between 40 and 50 inches.

[roadwarrior101]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

I'm interested to see how it will compare a year from now. And how long the snow lasts this year.

They're predicting El Nino to develop this year, only without the major warm blob that we had two years ago, to counteract it. Still very early, but it could be even wetter next year, if it actually comes to fruition.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

Microclimates, that phenomenon that bewilders newcomers from the Midwest and east coast. Boulder Creek is about 30 miles or so from San Jose which gets 13 inches of rain a year but BC gets between 40 and 50 inches.

Had to chuckle at this. Most people consider Missouri to be in the Midwest yet in fact, only roughly the upper half is. The rest makes up 2/3 of the Ozarks which is/are full of microclimates. We live down in a holler on the shore of a large lake. It can be pouring down rain here and dry as a bone starting up the ridge a mile away, and visa-versa. Same with snow. Keeps ya guessing. This morning we received .95 inches of rain in an hour (great thunderstorm) yet the ridgeline was dry.

[wac_432]

We had about 200% of normal this year in my town. It was a welcome relief for most, but I liked it when my yard was too dry to sprout anything. Now I have to fight back the weeds and grass.

Still, it was nice to have an actual rainy season. No more 90 degree days in January this year.

[Chimérique]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

Microclimates, that phenomenon that bewilders newcomers from the Midwest and east coast. Boulder Creek is about 30 miles or so from San Jose which gets 13 inches of rain a year but BC gets between 40 and 50 inches.

Yeah, the Santa Cruz Mountains suck the moisture out, and get pounded by rain, leaving the Santa Clara Valley (San Jose) in a rain shadow...although it is still greener than most of SoCal.

[BeauCharles]

Originally Posted by Chimérique

Large Cities: most to least rainfall to date

1. Sacramento 32.98 - NorCal

2. San Francisco 31.55 - NorCal
3. Oakland 27.85 - NorCal

4. Long Beach 19.58 - SoCal
5. Los Angeles 18.67- SoCal
6. San Jose 17.88 - NorCal

7. Fresno 16.74 - Central Cal

8. Riverside 13.19 - SoCal
9. San Diego 11.70 - SoCal

10. Bakersfield 7.43 - SoCal

Where does one find rainfall to date information? Every weather site just shows current and future conditions - can't seem to find one that lists the total rainfall total to date.