FORECAST: The West Coast Is About To Get Really Wet!

Sunshine predicts that a large swath of the U.S. west coast is going to catch a ride on the Pineapple Express over the next few days. No, not the Rogan and Franco stoner flick (although, weed farmers in NOCAL must be rejoicing). This Pineapple Express is an example of an atmospheric river: a weather phenomenon that blows heavy rain from Hawaii and the North Pacific to soak everything from Washington State to SOCAL. It’s part of the 2016 El Niño but sadly it won’t have the same drought destroyer effects of the 1997–1998 El Niño, immortalized by the classic Chris Farley SNL skit.

Although San Francisco, Fresno, and other mid-California cities aren’t too far behind on typical, annual rainfall they could nonetheless use the rain. The National Weather Service’s San Francisco forecast discussion predicts, “…an active weather pattern across our region into a good portion of next week…both show the potential for a stronger atmospheric river set up by the end of next week, bringing the potential for additional widespread rainfall.”

So, in the timeless words of Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth, “Good news, everyone!”

Southern California, which has been in dire straits for the last few years, will not be participating in the precipitation at levels that would pull it out of drought. On average, the upcoming weeks are the last blast of the late winter rainy season in southern California but experts haven’t high hopes. But who knows? Maybe mother nature will take pity and send some storms south. Maybe if Hollyweird would start nominating the weather for some of its groundbreaking film roles, the rain might occasionally show up in L.A.

On the other hand, the Sierras will be receiving a heap of snow and the Pacific Northwest will be soaked for the next week or so. You’re thinking, “What else is new?” but Oregon and Washington have had some of the driest summers on record. Last July Olympic National Park, the wettest rainforest in the U.S., caught fire.

An exciting outcome of this dousing is the potential for larger than normal amounts of rain reaching Death Valley — the hottest, driest, lowest area in North America — causing a Super Bloom of dormant wildflowers in what is usually a wasteland.

To quote a recent post on Death Valley National Park’s Facebook page:

“The chance of a rare Super Bloom of wildflowers this spring just got better! The autumn rainstorm (0.70 inches) that just hit Death Valley is a key factor for the early sprouting of annual wildflowers seeds and the predicted El Niño weather pattern should bring regular rain this winter to keep the plants growing and blooming. This is the same situation we saw with the Super Blooms of 1998 and 2005, and it is possible we could see a repeat of those mind-blowing wildflower displays.”

So if you happen to be in Death Valley sometime in the next couple of weeks, get ready for a rarely seen show of colors.

Well, that’s about it. Good luck everybody and make sure you do your rain dance for those SOCAL folks who are in drastic need of a downpour.

Davis, The Sunshine Team.