“We have become a force of nature. Not long ago, hurricanes,
tornadoes, floods, drought, forest fires, even earthquakes and volcanic explosions, were accepted as ‘natural disasters’ or ‘acts of God.’ But now we have joined God, powerful enough to influence these events.”
~ David Suzuki, host of CBS The Nature of Things, Zoology PhD, environmentalist

On Monday a few more drops fell from perhaps the last storm of the 2017-18 Rain Season. Just a few days prior, under clear blue skies, I packed away my rain gauge. On Tuesday, the few drops slowly turned to light showers. Out came the gauge once again.

At this point, we are at a record-low rainfall total. Normally by the end of the rainfall season – June 30 – approximately 24 inches is recorded, but this year La Crescenta (at my location) stands at a scant 10.03 inches. Southern California experienced a record dry and unusually warm autumn and winter, according to an analysis by the National Weather Service. Then came our late short-lived “March Miracle.” While we record a U.S. low, on April 15 a U.S. record-high was also set. Like ours, it involves rain totals. Where? Hawaii!

Hawaii is no stranger to record rains due to the warm tropical waters surrounding the islands that can feed large quantities of moisture into thunderstorms that form over the steep topography.

An owner of a personal weather station two miles west of Hanalei recorded 49.69 inches of rain in 24 hours over April 14-15. The NWS, upon further study, will no doubt confirm this data.

“I stand behind my readings 100%. Being a surfer, we follow the weather worldwide and especially in Hawaii waters for surf predictions,” he said.

Today is one of transition as a short-lived high-pressure system moves in once again; with it comes warming. Back and forth, between high and low, the pattern continues as summer draws near.

Sue Kilpatrick is a Crescenta Valley resident and Official Skywarn Spotter for the National Weather Service. Reach her at suelkilpatrick@gmail.com.

  Sue Kilpatrick