California's Drought Picture Improves Dramatically

[kettlepot]

This winter season is a repeat of 1976-77, not only in California with the drought, but in the east with the extended dip south of the arctic air.

We have grown more efficient with our use of water since then, but there are also more people. We will survive; our lawns won't.

[TheDragonslayer]

Up here in far northern California near Eureka we got near half an inch of rain yesterday with sprinkles today and tonight. I drained 3 of my rain barrels into other barrels two days ago in preparation of collecting more rain. I upped my storage from 235 gallons to just over 400 gallons of water in just one day and all from that half inch of rain. We also have a well on our property that is 23 feet deep and there is still 2 feet of water in the bottom. Many of my neighbors are on well water and have said it has never gone dry in over 60 years. It is amazing to know that there is water beneath us just 21 feet down and a lot of it.

[sargentodiaz]

don't they wish they had this problem as some water districts claim they'll run out of water by April if it doesn't rain.

UK floods: January rain breaks records in parts of England


Two commandoes look out over flooded fields The military is preparing to help flood-affected areas in Somerset

Early figures suggest parts of England have had their wettest January since records began more than 100 years ago.

The Met Office said much of southern England and parts of the Midlands had already seen twice the average rainfall for January by midnight on Tuesday - with three days left in the month.

And it is warning of more rain, as well as snow and high winds, for much of the UK in the coming days.

Read more @ BBC News - UK floods: January rain breaks records in parts of England

And then comes this:

Much-needed snow bound for parched Sierra Nevada

Wells, reservoirs running dry in rural California communities

ASSOCIATED PRESS

RENO — As much as 2 feet of snow is possible atop the Sierra Nevada by Thursday as the first significant storm in nearly two months blows in none too soon for a drought-stricken region where wildfire threats are unseasonably high.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection announced earlier this week it has hired 125 extra firefighters in Northern California and extended seasonal firefighting forces in Southern California because of the dry winter conditions.

Read more @ Much-needed snow bound for parched Sierra Nevada | Las Vegas Review-Journal

Sadly, it'll only affect the northern part of the state.