California Rainy Season!
@DeborahDiane (40851)
Laguna Woods, California
January 4, 2017 10:49pm CST
California is finally getting rain ... real rain. We had the wettest December in years, and now we are expecting more rain in early January. Most of the reservoirs in the state are full and some of them are over-full and they are planning to let some of the water out of them! Our snow pack is not quite up to par, yet, but it is getting there. Everything is starting to look lush and green.
While we are getting all this rain, most Californians continue to conserve water and the state has several de-salination plants along the coast which are under construction.
Hopefully, by the next time we have another drought (which is inevitable), we will be better at conserving water and we will also have more sources of water.
Recently, @ElizabethWallace told me that California has four seasons ... drought, fires, rain and floods. I thought that was pretty funny!
Looks like we are in the rainy season now. Let's hope the flood season isn't too bad!
19 people like this
18 responses
@JudyEv (382566)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jan 17
That is good that your drought is over at last. From memory, it has lasted quite a long time. Please give my regards to Elizabeth if and when you see her. I guess I could message her but that would another interruption. I presume she is full-steam ahead with promoting her book.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 17
@JudyEv - Yes, our drought lasted six years, during which time we only got about 1/3 to 1/2 the normal amount of rain. This year, things are much better, which is a relief. However, I'm glad they are moving forward with other preparations for the next drought. I will see Elizabeth next week for lunch. I will pass on you message. Her book is keeping her pretty busy.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
7 Jan 17
@JudyEv - It sounds like you live in a bit of a rain forest, if you have guaranteed rainfall.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382566)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Jan 17
@DeborahDiane It is always good when a drought breaks. We chose this area for its guaranteed rainfall.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 17
@sallypup - I think we are all happy with the rain ... from one end of California to the other! The Sierra's are getting tons of snow!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 17
@Hatley - I agree! As long as the rain keeps pouring, we are at risk of mud slides and flooding. I remember Laguna Beach about seven or eight years had flooded streets up to the tops of the parking meters at one point!
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
31 Jan 17
I'm on the Central Coast in Paso Robles. I love having our lakes and the Salinas River filling again. It's been fun taking photo walks to document the amount of water before the river disappears again. I probably won't have to water anything for weeks, even if the predicted rain this week doesn't come as scheduled. I love seeing the hills get green again. Here's a photo of the Atascadero Lake I took on Saturday. You can see the grass around it is green. The lake is full now. Where are you in Southern California?
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
1 Feb 17
@DeborahDiane We drove through there after Christmas and it was already beautiful and green.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
2 Feb 17
@bagarad - Yes, Southern California has been looking lovely this winter. I hope we get a little more rain, so the effect lasts!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
31 Jan 17
I live in Orange County, on the edge of the town of Laguna Beach. Our hillsides are so lovely and green right now. I know it will all be brown and dry by summer, but we are enjoying it right now. We have a granddaughter at Cal Poly, as I think I mentioned before, so I am sure she is enjoying the greener pastures up there! I loved your picture!
1 person likes this
@marlina (154103)
• Canada
6 Jan 17
@DeborahDiane Over one million trees lost? That is so awful.
1 person likes this
@marlina (154103)
• Canada
7 Jan 17
@DeborahDiane It is a catastrophe no doubt about this. We need trees.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Jan 17
@marlina - Yes, we need trees and it breaks my heart that we have had so many die. There was no way to artificially water them during the drought. 
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 17
@Julie555 - Thank you! We have been waiting six years to get over our drought!
1 person likes this
@Julie555 (4156)
• Russian Federation
6 Jan 17
@DeborahDiane I thought California is such a weather paradise
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Jan 17
@Julie555 - It's a mixed bag. We all love having continual, year-around sunshine. However, it also means water shortages, rationing, and other problems due to a lack of rain. Unfortunately, we cannot have both. 
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
7 Jan 17
That sounds great that you are getting the needed rain and the renaming of the seasons by Elizabeth is pretty funny but troublesome. It's good that the state is thinking ahead and preparing to deal with the difficulties that will come up.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
8 Jan 17
@DeborahDiane Good to plan ahead. Proverbs 27:12 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) 12 The clever see trouble coming and hide; the thoughtless go on and pay the penalty.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Jan 17
@1hopefulman - Yes, I am glad that the state is looking ahead and accepting the fact that we will have more sources of water in the future.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
9 Jan 17
@1hopefulman - Yes, it is wise for our state to prepare for the next drought, now while we are getting a lot of rain.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
5 Jan 17
I haven't seen this much rain in what seems like many years now . . . but I'm not complaining! I hope it will continue to rain like this - but throughout the year so we can get out of this drought. That's too funny about our four seasons - I think that's pretty much right!
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
5 Jan 17
@DeborahDiane Luckily it's still showering . . . I guess it is supposed to be like this the rest of the week. I love it - and now I can actually wear winter clothing!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 17
@much2say - I agree! It has been years since we have had this much rain, and it is such a relief. I'm glad you like Elizabeth's definition of our four seasons!
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
6 Jan 17
i shared this post on a friend's wall on FB She is from California but is on holiday here.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
7 Jan 17
@allknowing - If your friend is not here in California right now, she will probably be surprised to hear how much rain we are getting. I hope her home here is OK while she is in India!
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
7 Jan 17
@DeborahDiane Actually I will be taking her and her family to lunch at a beach resort. I will check with her about it.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502812)
• Italy
6 Jan 17
@DeborahDiane I hope we do not get snow at all. During the night it has snowed a lot 30 miles from here, the mountains are covered with snow, but here in the south we can live without snow.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
7 Jan 17
@LadyDuck - Then I hope you are able to avoid having snow! No need to have snow if you don't need it in your part of the country.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 17
@LadyDuck - Cold and windy can be miserable. I hope you get some snow!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238370)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Feb 17
@DeborahDiane We have those (more accidents) two. There was even a small landslide up at Borges Ranch, when I take the kids. The main parking lot is closed right now.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Feb 17
@TheHorse - I hope no one has been injured in the mudslides. That is always the worst part.
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Feb 17
@TheHorse - I heard there were some bad landslides in Marin County. We haven't had many problems here ... mostly, just more car accidents than normal.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
7 Jan 17
@DianneN - I will be having lunch with Elizabeth on Tuesday. I will let her know that you miss her. Several other people have said the same thing. Things seem to be going well with the publication of her book, but I want to find out the latest details myself, when I see her. She is also helping me with a retirement book I am writing to accompany my blog ... baby-boomer-retirement.com. In the next couple of months I should find out if her publisher will take it on, or whether I should self-publish it on Amazon. (I have already done that with six other books).
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Jan 17
@DianneN - Thanks for the good wishes. Every time I finish a book I tell myself that it will be the last one ... it is too exhausting. Then, six months later, I'm ready to start another one! LOL
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
7 Jan 17
@DeborahDiane Thank you! She's such a bright lady and very witty. So are you for that matter! I'm quite impressed with all of you writers and am a bit intimidated! Best of luck with your latest book, too!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 17
@just4him - I'm glad you said the reservoirs are full "for the time being." As all of us who live or who have lived in California know, another drought is always just around the corner.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
5 Jan 17
Good to hear, I know how much California needs the water. We have never had that problem in Illinois.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 17
@fishtiger58 - I grew up in Missouri, and I never remember worrying about drought there, either. We have really needed the rain here in California, so I am glad we are finally getting caught up.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
7 Jan 17
@fishtiger58 - Yes, we are getting plenty of rain this year. It should make a big difference in our drought situation!
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
6 Jan 17
@DeborahDiane It's a really good thing, I have family who own a dairy in Ontario California and they always talk about the lack of rain. Glad California is finally getting some.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 17
@toniganzon - Yes, I hate it when it floods here, too. I hope we get enough rain to stop the drought, but not so much that we have floods.
1 person likes this
@MattMeng (3448)
• Hangzhou, China
7 Jan 17
@DeborahDiane Yes, I like it very much, thank you very much for your kindly sharing.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 17
@MattMeng - I'm glad you liked the photo of our California mountains!
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
5 Jan 17
It would be great to see all those seasons be tranquil. I hope it happens.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 17
@JamesHxstatic - It seems to me that our California weather is always either absolutely perfect (but dry) or too extreme! We are expecting more rain over the weekend. Guess my horseback riding will be cancelled.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
5 Jan 17
Yes, we are finally getting rain. It's not the torrential downfall we need to get the numbers up but that would cause mudslides.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40851)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Jan 17
@JohnRoberts - I agree! We need steady rain which is spread out ... not mudslides. It is a tough balance!
1 person likes this
