Hey Hey Giovanni here! Your weatherguy. March finally came to a close and with it the “March Miracle” that brought us 15.47″ of rain which is almost 6″ above average rainfall for March. We totally needed this since February was so unseasonably dry. Overall, the California snowpack sits at 86% of average for this date which is okay, nowhere near what we really needed, but it’s way better than last year’s 6% average with no snow below 8000ft. Northern California Reservoirs are also doing much better. For example, Shasta which is the largest California reservoir is at 89% capacity which is 109% of average for this date. This is huge as the snow melt season has even yet to begin! Make no mistake. We are still in a drought. Don’t stop conserving. Don’t waste water. Next year will likely be dry. Scripps Institution of Oceanography is already calling for a dry California winter next year. La Niña which is the reverse of El Niño will be developing after this summer and continue to influence our weather through spring 2017.
So will it rain or snow at all this month? Yes!
We still have the last few remaining El Niño enhanced storms still to arrive this month and maybe even through early May as El Niño is now quickly collapsing across the Pacific Ocean basin.

Weekly Forecast: Believe it or not, rain is in the forecast. It won’t arrive until Friday or Saturday, but it’s looking more and more likely as what could be the last Atmospheric River event of the season will be heading into SoCal and Central California. Nevada County looks to remain just north of all this amazing weather, but don’t worry we won’t be completely left out as there should be enough subtropical moisture heading into the Sierra by Saturday to interact with a dry Low dropping south out of the Gulf of Alaska potentially setting up a very volatile and unstable atmospheric condition highly conducive to t’storms and severe weather across the north valley. Snow levels will start out above 9000 ft, but lower to near 7000ft locally as the colder air mass from the north pours into NorCal later on Saturday. This forecast is tentative of course and likely to change before the coming weekend, but I love to forecast and can’t help myself when it comes to these highly complex systems. This wet weather pattern may continue through Wednesday which sounds completely wild for April weather.
But wait a minute! I’m burying the lead! It’s going to get really warm with no major cool down expected this Monday as the storm I had been talking about for the last few days will remain to our far north only pushing a few high clouds across our skies.
Get this! Daytime highs will reach the low 80s in Nevada City for the first time since last October! This means the mid 80s for Penn Valley and hotter in the Sacramento Valley. This coming week will bring weather that everyone will love as the warm spring days will make me smile and the potential for wild weather this weekend will keep me at the edge of my seat. We are so extremely lucky to live on this planet!
*Statewide Sierra snow pack is at around 86% of normal for this date!

Weekly Rain and Snow for Nevada City

Rainfall so far Today
0.00″

Rainfall This Week
0.15″

Rainfall This Month
0.00″

Rain in Nevada City since July 1st 2015
46.67″

Snowfall in Nevada City so far this season
2″

April – June Precipitation and Temperature Outlook: Warmer with an increased chance of precipitation!