While Butte has had a much warmer than the usual February, Seattle and the PNW has had even more unusual weather. The daffodils, usually a late March appearance, and here now.
While the east of the US has suffered a lot of snow, this winter has been quite different here in the Northwest; some of the lowest snowpack levels seen in decades.
Driving over from Montana, Lookout pass on the Montana/Idaho border usually has 3-5 feet of snow at this time of year, it had less than a foot. Snoqualamie Pass just west of Seattle has a ski resort that has not opened this year, and will not. It's runs are dirt and rocks, with mere patches of old snow. It does not bode well for the summer water levels, and the fire season. California, the Sierra's and Cascades are even worse.
I'm going to hang out here for a bit before making my way back, perhaps March will bring a bit of fishing.
We're getting a break from the dry pattern presently, although, the last storm only left six inches around the house. One the plus side, the statewide snow pack edged back up to the low eighties from the high seventies. I am cynical about this present storm cycle, but also hopeful.
ReplyDeleteYesterday, driving from the county courthouse after renewing my tags, I caught sight of someone fly fishing in the river. That's far earlier than I've ever seen this high up, but it made me think of you ;).
Yeah, the Big Hole is totally ice-free, which is totally odd for this time of year. I may fish it when I get back.
DeleteI listened to a long PBS interview about the decreasing ice levels in the Arctic forcing the polar cold farther south and etcetcetc. Just make it stop!
ReplyDeleteHuh, somehow that doesn't sound quite right.....counter-intuitive actually.
DeleteI went to seattle once.....loved the chowder
ReplyDeleteA nice place for a honeymoon, John. Think about it.
Delete(I'll try to post again.)
ReplyDeleteSaid, "That's reassuring news from your odd-doc, Mike. Good for you."
Thanks Martha. Hope things are well with you, keep in touch.
DeleteGlad the doc is being positive. I would stay right out of the snow if I were in the US I just wonder what's wrong with Florida....
ReplyDeleteMostly what's wrong withe FL is the number of republicans......
DeleteGood news from OddDoc indeed. This weather is very alarming indeed, can California withstand more drought?
ReplyDeleteGreat that you're talking fishing.
XO
WWW
Yep, California has some hard choices to make in terms of water allotment.....farmers, cities, rivers, somebody's going to be short.
DeleteYeah, good news from the sawbones. He must not need your money right now. Enjoy the weather, the daffodils and DO try to get some fishing in.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm actually hopefuly about the fishing, things are progressing better than anticipated.
DeleteI'm very glad to hear your doctor's news was good. How weird is he?
ReplyDeleteI think I've found all the western snow right outside my window. If you
need ice for your orange juice I'll send some over.
He's quirky, which is rare for a cardio, a middle age singaporian (?) who has a slightly twisted sense of humor.
DeleteI'll pass, but thanks for the offer.
Florida full of Republicans? Oh how could they? Happy to see daffodils, though. They've been popping up here so fast I expect them to yell "BOO" and waggle their heads at me. Glad to hear you're with family --been getting kid visits here too. My son is a great cook and just takes over in the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteI miss the acacia (sp?) in the North Bay, and the smell of the tar weed in the spring.
DeleteAlmost March and it was still 18 below this morning. I think someone switched January and February around, the thoughtless bastard! We are still locked up in snow and ice. I want to see green stuff and flowers, but not bad enough to move to Florida.
ReplyDeleteYeah, mother nature is a bit of a trickster this winter on you middle-easters.....I never did break out the winter coat this year (though I was gone for two months).
DeleteI saw a new political map based on this years weather patterns. The East & South were "blue." The West was dry & "red."
ReplyDeleteWhat a switch - we are covered in snow!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I'm happy to hear about the news from your cardio doctor.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like it's been raining a lot down here in SoCal, but that is only because we've gotten used to seeing little to none of it.
My area is good (water wise), because we've been on "Toilet to Tap" system for quite a while. Once everything is filtered and purified, most of it is pumped back into the aquifer. I know that sounds kind of gross, but it hardly ever tastes like excrement. Just kidding, it's really good.