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Cool Spring Was ‘Best Case Scenario’ for Snowmelt and River Levels

Spring was unusually cool in Northern California this year, allowing for a manageable snowmelt period in what could’ve been a far more dangerous situation. While flooding due to snowmelt has certainly done damage to many valley and foothill communities following the record winter, the cool weather pattern to start the year has prevented the widespread, catastrophic flooding that could have occurred under different circumstances.

Latest Storm Piles More Snow on California Mountains

A cold low pressure system spinning off the coast of California sent bands of rain and snow across the state Wednesday, making travel difficult and adding to an epic mountain snowpack.

Forecasters said the storm was not as strong as the systems that pounded the state all winter, but that chains were required for vehicles on highways through the Sierra Nevada. A section of U.S. 395 on the eastern side of the range was closed due to snowfall.

Blustery Early Spring Storm Douses San Diego Area

The first full day of spring arrived in decidedly wintry fashion in the San Diego area, with a blustery, season-straddling storm continuing Wednesday with widespread rain, whipping winds and potential for more mountain snow.

As of early Tuesday afternoon, the unsettled atmospheric system had generated two-day precipitation tallies of more than 1 1/2 inches along the coast, over 2 inches in the inland valleys, well over 3 inches in the East County highlands and up to four-fifths of an inch in the deserts, according to the National Weather Service.

San Diego’s Winter Dry Spell to Last Until at Least Thursday

After a wet start to the rainy season, San Diego is in the midst of a dry spell that will last until at least Thursday and possibly a lot longer, says the National Weather Service.

Cool air is flowing into the region from the northwest, keeping temperatures slightly below average. Forecasters say San Diego’s daytime high will be in the 63 to 64 degree range for most of the week.

Two More Rounds of Rain, Mountain Snow Ahead For California Into This Weekend

California will receive two more rounds of rain and mountain snow through this weekend, continuing a stormy period that kicked off before Thanksgiving.

For now, drier conditions have developed and generally will be in place for most of Tuesday.

A low pressure system brought over 2 inches of rain to parts of the Central Valley north of Fresno. Some foothills and mountain locations below snow level in the Sierra Nevada, Santa Cruz Mountains into Napa and Sonoma counties measured over 4 inches of rain.