Winter Forecast Update

Meterologists at California's Department of Water Resources say:

this should be a near-normal (close to average precip) water year in Northern California and perhaps the upper Colorado River basin, and a drier than normal winter for Southern California.

Even a normal water year may not be enough to replenish the state's reservoirs. (Major ones are at one-quarter capacity, and half of their normal level this time of year [PDF])

What's more, if only warm events come in throughout the winter, they won't do much for State's snowpack. Spring snowpack alone accounts for 35% of urban and ag water supply across the state (with Sierra precip in total responsible for 60% of the supply).

Here's a more-sensational version of the story. [Also flashfloods in Queenland. Remember that global warming is about higher weather volatility.]

Bottom Line: Don't count on rain to bail us out. Raise prices to reduce water consumption and make it easier to trade water.

hattips to DW and WaterSISWEB