Measured at 2,200 feet AMSL, junction of Empire Grade and Pine Flat
August 2001 | . |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. | . | . | . | . |
Total: | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 2001 | . |
. |
. |
. | . | . |
. |
. | . |
. |
. | . | . | 24th .05" |
Total: .05" |
October 2001 | . |
. |
. | . |
. |
. | . | . | . | 30th 1.5" |
Total: 1.5" | ||||
November 2001 | . |
. |
. |
. | . | . | 10th: 1.45" |
11th: .45" |
12th: 3.85" |
22nd: .65" |
24th: 2.65" |
25th: .25" |
28/29 4.85" |
Total: 14.15" | |
December 2001 | 1st: 4.75" |
2nd: 3.9" |
3rd: .45" |
5th: 1" |
9th: .2" |
14th: 1.65" |
17th: 1.45" |
19th: 1.45" |
21st: 2.25" |
22nd: .15" |
23rd: 1.95" |
29th: 2.75" |
30th: .45" |
31st: 2.0" |
Total: 24.3" |
January 2002 | . |
2nd: 4.25" |
3rd: 2.0" |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
21st: .2" |
26th: 1.0" |
28th: .2" Snow |
29th: .1" Snow |
. |
Total: 7.75" | |
February 2002 | . |
7th: 2.45" |
. |
13th: trace |
. |
17th: 1.4" |
. |
19th: .95" |
20th: .2" |
23rd: .05" |
. |
. |
. |
Total: 5.05" | |
March 2002 | 6th: 2.15" |
7th: 1.15" |
10th: .85" |
13th: trace |
17th: .7" |
. |
22nd: 1.3" |
23rd: 1.1" |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
Total: 7.25" | |
April 2002 | . |
5th: .05" |
9th: .1" |
. |
16/17th: .5" |
. |
. |
. |
. |
26th: trace |
27th: .1" |
29th: .2" |
30th: .1" |
Total: 1.05" | |
May 2002 | . |
. |
. |
. |
19th: 1.7" |
20th: .2" |
21st: .15 |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
Total: 2.05" | |
June 2002 | . |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
Total: | |
Seasonal Total | (to June 30, 2002) | 64.15 Inches |
Just for comparison, you can look at a table of rainfall totals for previous seasons:
I keep these unofficial readings as a personal interest. I have seen our reading exceed other gauges that are located at lower elevations nearby, so I figured this might be of interest to others. For rainfall amounts up to 5 inches, I use a retail rain gauge. When amounts overnight are higher than 5 inches, I use, as a backup, a simple vertical wall bucket capable of holding up to 14 inches. I have to use the bucket at least a few times every winter. In years past, I was distrustful about the unusually high rainfall readings, changing gauges and trying various methods to improve accuracy. However, after checking with neighbors, I think we are simply in a micro-climate with more rain than other places.
There is one official California Department of Water Resources weather monitoring site located nearby, at a slightly higher elevation. They track my readings here at 2200' fairly well. You can compare for yourself, at Ben Lomond Mountain (2630', three miles up the road from here). Their measured rainfall tends to be slightly less, but the temperature tracks pretty close to our location.
As with most places in this region, we are in a "micro-climate". Ours happens to be very wet during the rainy season, due to our location, elevation and southern exposure to incoming storms. During large storms, average winds of 40 to 60 mph are typical here. In December of 1995, we had winds approaching 100 mph, and during February, 1998, peak winds approached 85 mph. The season is officially measured from July 1 to June 30, although rain usually only falls between September and May, a typical "dry and wet" seasonal pattern. Snow does fall here, but it is usually not more than a few inches at a time. The temperature range is not too extreme, and only falls below 25 degrees a few weeks every winter. 1991 was the exception, with lows in the teens for over a week. The winters of 1973, 1975, 1982, 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2002 brought significant snowfall.