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Photos by Melania Mahoney
Californians are usually hard pressed to sing-song the old children’s rhyme, “Rain, rain, go away, come again another day.” So desperately do we need precipitation that even uttering the phrase seems like blasphemy. Luckily for us, the recent spate of storms has eased water worries for the time being.
According to National Weather Service data, rainfall totals for the surrounding area – namely Santa Rosa and the Napa Airport – are 12.27 and 7.21 inches, respectively. Sonoma Valley is just a bit less, with 6.5. Regardless of the amounts, it’s all good news for drought-watchers. At last check, Lake Sonoma, which provides water to the southern end of the county, had received enough rainfall to be at capacity for the first time in four years. Lake Mendocino is at 82 percent of normal levels.
Here in the Valley, the series of storms caused minor flooding, power outages, and uprooted trees. This week’s forecast called for sporadic showers with dry conditions Wednesday through Friday. There is another chance of weekend rain.
