“It always rains on tents. Rainstorms will travel thousands of miles, against prevailing winds, for the opportunity to rain on a tent.”      
~ Dave Barry, American author & humor columnist

If we all moved into tents, might the drought loosen its grip over the Southwest? We may have to consider this now since La Niña conditions have strengthened. For now, we managed to squeeze a little more rain out of last weekend’s storm; the grand total stands at 2.30 inches. The more notable weather was the drop in temperature. Saturday night, I recorded a low of 40 degrees. By Sunday evening, travelers returning home from Thanksgiving gatherings faced strong winds and icy conditions on the I5 through the Grapevine. Brrrr …

The showers on Saturday and Sunday left us wondering and waiting for more. After five years of drought will the upcoming rainy season bring normal precipitation? Last year, based on the presence of a strong El Niño, we had anticipated good rainfall totals. Northern California received a lion’s share, filling its reservoirs and adding to the Sierra snowpack. Here in the southern regions of the state, we fell short of the predicted inches and were left a bit rain-shy. Our normal rainfall is around 24 inches and we topped off at about 16 inches. Not terribly bad except after several years of drought we were in need of much more. No more crying; onward and forward! After all Santa Claus is coming to town.

So what’s up with La Niña? According to Mike Halpert of the Climate Prediction Center at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “The weak La Niña is likely to contribute to persisting or developing drought across much of the southern U.S. this winter.”

Characterized by cooler-than-average surface water temperatures of the central Pacific Ocean equatorial region, a La Niña climate pattern affects the weather worldwide. In the southwest U.S., the phenomenon is known to trigger atmospheric changes that favor below average precipitation.

Before you throw your umbrella in the trash, consider the following: Rain wise, according to studies, six previous La Niña events have included three below normal, two close to average and one far exceeding average. With certainty we can say of the weather, “It’s up in the air for now!”

There is little we can do to bring on the rain. But there is a lot we can do to have fun! Saturday night is the 40th Annual Montrose Christmas Parade. The often-mentioned golden retriever, Abby, will be riding along with the CV Weekly folks this year. She hasn’t decided what to wear … a red bow or a plaid scarf. I promise that if this year’s parade is anything like past ones, its magic will make drought (and even political) worries disappear.

Stellar weather is expected. Clear skies, mild gusty winds and chilly temperatures – 40 degrees are forecast for Saturday night along Honolulu Avenue. Much of the same, but cooler, brings us into the first week of December.
Sue Kilpatrick is a
Crescenta Valley resident and
Official Skywarn Spotter for the
National Weather Service. Reach her at  suelkilpatrick@gmail.com.

  Sue Kilpatrick