We have had an unusual winter. The last five days have been the highest recorded temps for February..... since records have been kept. Our snow evidentially all went east, way east. Here are some comparison photos that tell a pretty dramatic story. Since our water comes pretty much from snow pack it will be an interesting summer. If you are getting snow...think of us and the coming summer. Moss becomes highly combustible when dry, giving a whole other meaning to tinder. I love the moss ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) Olympic Mts Feb14,2015 ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) Same range August 2014 Olympic Mts. ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden ) March of a normal year Olympic Mts. ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )
I love the 'normal' year snowy mountain shot Jewell. I can only hope that you get lots of rain and that the summer temperatures don't rise enough to cause a fire hazard. We've had very little snow here in this part of Scotland this winter which is unusual too.
Wow Jewell. 'A picture is worth a 1000 words' (etc). I take it that you have been getting rain, but it is not cold enough for snow, thus no snow pack for the summer (dry) months?
Jewell, it's the same way here in Idaho and we have the same concerns about fire. Rain but very little snow.
Gee, with little or no snow the outlook for forest fires does not look good. If anybody wants their snow back we have more than enough to spare. With the snowiest February since records have been kept, it feels like the glaciers have returned. Spring planting will begin in July. Jerry
I just never think of the NW being dry... but without that runoff... wow... hope you at least get lots of rain to keep the forest fires and drought away.
We have actually had very little rain this winter. I have seen the stars more nights than I ever remember. Lovely sunsets and I even moved some perennials around this last week with the first perfect in the front yard for planting. Ronni, I am jealous every time I hear you have more snow...who would have thought.
It is snowing a little right now but it isn't suppose to be but an inch or two. We are praying that the snow will be a lot more in the mountains around us. In a normal winter we have over 100 inches of snow water equivalent and now we have 86. Not too bad but I feel better with more. 3 years ago we had several large fires in Idaho. It's so sad to drive by and see mountain sides with all the blackened trees.
I heard on the news the other day that the northwest part of the U.S. was unusually dry this winter. The NWS updated the drought monitor for my area yesterday and we are now in Exceptional Drought conditions....I think Parched and Desolate will be reached before summer.
A few homes in our neighborhood have wells but those were drilled back in the 1960's when the houses were built...but we don't. I have 6 rain barrels, soon to be 7 and one that will be hooked up to my daughter's dehumidifier so that it automatically drains into it and we have a bucket under the bathtub faucet to catch the 'warming up' water. My washing machine already drains out into a side garden but I think we are going to hook that up to a really large water container this summer.
Wow Toni, you really have to conserve water with those conditions. Besides rain barrels do you have any other sources of water or a huge cistern? I don't know how you survive that Texas summer heat, and to do it without adequate water would be too much of a challenge for me. Guess I am too spoiled.
I couldn't take the heat but at least the place we bought in Texas did have a good well. I don't know what your water bill runs in the area you are in but where we lived in central west Texas, I could not have afforded to water my yard! We have never had water shortages, here but if we don't start getting more snow we might. It sounds like you are saving as much water as you can and I hope you get enough rain often enough to get through the dry time.
