Scene along highway 138...

I like the pic but hope it's all over for you soon.

I really should say that I'm not actually complaining. the rain was falling heavily...usual temperatures for the 25th of January are VERY RARELY above zero...usual temps are minus 20 C as a daytime high with night temps dipping to minus 30 or so...add to that a windchill with winds of 10 to 15 mph... and you have minus 40's... and those temps usually last all of January and February... and sometimes we don't lose all our snow until the first weeks of April... we have fierce winters here, usually!

Makes you want to curl up in front of the logfire with a good book and a hot cup of tea!

cocooning is one option, for sure... there was a time when I skied every weekend...and the winters were never long enough... but now my skis are drawing dust..and even if I did go out on the hill I would never be able to get up if I fell... lol...so as you say, a nice warm cozy spot, a good book, a blankie and some tea... Another anomaly is the speed with which the years are flying by... the winters seem to go faster and faster. Just when you want them to slow down to savour the sweetness of being aged (if there is such a thing) you find that not just the years but the decades disappear ...and here I am chronologically challenged! lol...

Lori:

It sure does look very cold! It almost look like a blizzard. But you say...it's rain falling on top of the snow? This happens once in a while?

No, D1... it is a complete anomaly! this picture was taken on January 25th...usually Jan and Feb. the mercury never climes above zero! It rained steadily and heavily for hours... close to a whole day... and the level of the snow blanket decreased markedly... the mist was a combination of warm air and warm rain coming in contact with the frozen snow and ice... I suppose this is the response to the warm water and currents in the equatorial Pacific ocean off of Central America, right? Climatic instability is scarey~. it is affecting ocean currents that usually are cold...and increasing ocean temps...which effects ocean fauna and flora... could be a real mess...because these El Nino seem to be coming more frequently. Are you getting any moisture in your part of California?

Lori:

Now it makes sense. It takes me a minute, sometimes. lol!

Yesterday, it was 75 degrees F. / 24 degrees C. and partly cloudy. Today it's been pouring rain most of the day and cooler. We're having another strong El Niño storm. We'll have some beautiful days in the 70's F. then maybe more rain on Wednesday then 3 days clear and warm then more rain again. This is very typical for an El Niño year...and we need every drop of rain. It's the greenest its been here in years.

I am glad that you are getting the moisture you need so badly...but the effects of an El Nino year here on the other side of NA is that we have see-saw temps, and lots of moisture..and early springs...! so how are we supposed to feel about this...it seems like a blessing...but is it?

Lori:

Thanks! Yes, we received a lot of rain yesterday...almost 2 inches/ 6 cm in some area of S.D. County.

The effects of El Niño are suppose to dissipate by summer. We'll see if it happens though.