Laguna lush from the rain

WEATHER TIDBITS

Last week’s drencher put most recording stations to above seasonal

norms.

The skies were kind to Laguna with roughly 2.6 inches, more than

twice the April norm. Last week’s total was exceeded only by Mt.

Wilson: 3.26 inches and Fallbrook with 2.99 inches.

L.A. proper, usually gets more than we do (rainwise that is), but

this storm dumped a modest .6 inches, 2 inches less than we got.

Laguna’s 2002-03 season total now is at 15.78 inches -- more than

L.A.’s 15.39 inches.

The Greenbelt is lush and alive with knee-high grasses, fresh

sages and a breathtaking carpet of yellow mustard, many of which are

six to eight feet tall.

The 90s were the wettest decade of the 20th century -- with an

average of 19.88 inches, compared to the norm of 12.85 inches. We passed the 20 inch mark four times, ’91 and ’92 were 21 inches, ’92

and ’93 were 27.3 inches, ’94 and ’95 were 24.1 inches and ’97 and

‘98 were a whopping 37.2 inches.

April 2003 has been lots of changeable conditions. No two days

have been alike. Which is OK with me -- quite a far cry from the past

three Aprils, with 90% June gloom in April. Why? ‘Cause there’s been

no inversion layer -- constant flushing of the atmosphere and the

deserts have been only in the 70s and low 80s.

Just got a report that snow flurries fell on the Grapevine and

Cajon Pass (Elevation 4,600 feet).

Today’s sunrise: 6:14 a.m.; sunset: 7:29 p.m.

The highest temperature we could muster today was Palm Springs at

69 degrees -- 21 degrees below normal.

Anything that moves through here eventually ends up in the

Midwest, raising all hell.

So thunder, let’s get ready to rumble!

I’d rather have this blustery, active weather than the unrelenting

gloom that can shroud our area this time of year.

On this date in 1958 a strong thunderstorm hit Laguna with six

reported water sprouts, 3/4-inch hail and 1.5-inches of rain in just

two hours!

April ’58 was our wettest April with 6.07 inches -- topping that

El Nino season with 24.42 inches. Laguna’s 10th wettest season.

A second reefer just rolled in at Brooks Street -- another New

Zealand swell at a whopping 20 second intervals. But the wind is

blowing 30 knots, so you need a Dramamine just to watch it.

Stay tuned!

* DENNIS McTIGHE is a Laguna Beach resident. He earned a

bachelor’s degree in earth sciences from UCSD and was a U.S. Air

Force weather forecaster at Hickman Air Force Base, Hawaii.