Size Matters, but Not Every Night

When it comes to precipitation numbers; yes, size matters, but not every night. The numbers for Southern California and Upper Ojai, Ventura County this year are unimpressive: 7 inches or less so far this year, when an average year will total just under 25 inches.

As my meterologist friend Brad Muller wisely pointed out, not only is this well under normal, it’s downright shocking for an El Nino year. Neither of us could recall another year when that happened.

But that’s a subject for another day. Today I want to bring up the lovely fact that over
half an inch of rain fell today. I walked outside and looked at the muddy yellow water running down the gutters and gathering in pools and I knew; one more big storm, and the streams will begin to run again. I recalled seeing a map in the paper, with storms coming down the coast from the north, as they do traditionally at this time of year. And last night I dreamed of the lines moving across the map, coming slightly backwards against the grain towards us across the continent, across Montana, Idaho, Nevada, and into California. The light flickering on the falling water, the gentle pounding on the concrete walk outside, the cool breeze through the window…I dreamt of rain …

Here how the clouds looked after this afternoon’s shower mostly cleared: