Be careful II ...

“WEST SLOPE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA - INCLUDING THE CITY OF...BLUE CANYON
305 PM PST FRI FEB 13 2009
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST SATURDAY...
...WINTER STORM WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT...
THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM PST SATURDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT.
SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHT. SNOW MAY BE OCCASIONALLY HEAVY. SOUTHWEST WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH OVER MOUNTAIN PASSES WILL CREATE AREAS OF REDUCED VISIBILITY IN SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW AT TIMES.
4 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW MAY FALL AT THE LOWER ELEVATIONS...WITH OVER A FOOT ABOVE 7000 FEET OVERNIGHT. SNOW WILL TAPER TO LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS TOWARD SATURDAY MORNING.
A MUCH MORE POWERFUL STORM MAY SPREAD HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS OVER THE REGION SATURDAY INTO MONDAY. THIS STORM COULD HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON TRAVEL THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS FOR UPDATES ON THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS STORM.”

Oh, yes. Now THAT’S a “Severe Weather Alert.”

Putting aside my admittedly freakish enjoyment of this Actual Winter Weather in a state where the people consider 70 degrees “chilly,” we really, really need this snow. Higher up in the mountains feet of the stuff is building up. There’s not enough up there yet to know if this series of storms will produce enough snow (and in spring, water) to relieve the dangerous drought conditions we’ve been living with, but my fingers are crossed.

Years back we had a bunch of very dry years. The state authorities were seriously talking water rationing. When the rainy season came, there wasn’t any. It was dry as could be. January and February passed with almost no rain, and very little snow in the higher elevations.

And then March arrived, and it was as if someone had thrown open the “storm doors.” Along the coast and in the valley it rained and rained and rained, day after day of rain and Californians everywhere were moaning and groaning about the grey, wet, chilly weather. And up in the mountains, it snowed.

“Miracle March” saved California’s butt that year. I’m hoping that perhaps this will go down in history as “Fabulous February.” We’ll see.

I did get outside and shovel paths through the snow again this afternoon, but as you can also see, it’s snowing again. No matter. I enjoyed the shoveling after my sore muscles warmed up a bit. And though tonight I’m dealing with achy, arthritic wrists and fingers, I don’t mind. I made tomorrow’s shoveling chore easier.

And I just realized: I’m live-snow blogging!