Heat Returns: Call it a Rain Year?
We saw the air temperature reach the 90s on many thermometers out here today. So, it is time to think about summing up the rain year. Here are the data (chart, above). We had a dry year. So far, we have only had about 10.8"; but who knows- it may rain in May. This is about half of the long-term average. More rain seems unlikely. The grasses on the hillside have turned brown everywhere but at Hastings (Arroyo Seco long ago; lower Carmel Valley a week ago). We have almost finished mowing around all the buildings and it sure looks like the grasses are done and brown. So, we will call it a rain year. Madrone Creek never flowed this year, and Finch Creek only flowed out of the culverts at the Hallisey House crossing for a few hours all winter. We settle into the hot, hazy days of summer with the west breezes in the afternoons and the sun hot on our heads at breakfast.