Stormy weather

 

We had a short break in the rain on Saturday while the Pacific reloaded with the next storm. My gosh, we are sopping wet up here in the left corner. The Northwest rain totals are between 15-30 inches for the first half of November.

Seattle usually gets about 7 inches in November and we've already blown past that. It's safe to say the drought is officially over. All this moisture is up from the topics, so it's too warm to snow in the mountains. So far. Probably waiting for Thanksgiving weekend, just when everyone wants to travel.

And it's windy, too. What to do stuck inside on the weekend? Only so much time a person can spend in a semi-prone position watching football or reading. Those pandemic hobbies have lost their charm. 

I went out to Ross and Marshall's on Sunday looking for little gifts. The stores were jammed with other bored people and Christmas in full swing. There's a feeling that if you want something, better not wait. Last year this time, those stores weren't even open. Christmas was lonely and subdued for many of us.  

Another day of rough windy weather until it finally settles into the usual pattern of rain in the lowlands and snow in the mountains. Mr. Nguyen says he's coming on Friday with my compost.

 

 

Amanda and the kids walked to the river house yesterday and took this picture. A brown winter view, with the Cottonwood leaves down along the Methow. 

 

The Snoqualmie River and others are flooding dangerously right now, but those are on the west side of the mountains. As the storms barrel in from the Pacific, they hit up against the Cascade range and dump most of the moisture. Not much rain carries over to the dry side of the state.

Flood risk for the Methow comes when the snow in the North Cascades melts. Recipe: heavy winter snow followed by a sudden spring warming. In other words, climate change. Hang on to yer hat.

Remember this view last June, when the river was running fast and high.  Just a typical spring run-off.