Warm September
The Lake Almanor basin experienced warm and mostly dry conditions during the month of September. Chester airport reported a grand total of just under a quarter inch of rainfall for the month. Although that amount is less than the historical average for September, it’s better than the completely dry months of July and August.
The lake level as of October 1st was at 4486 feet, about two feet higher than last year at this time. Lake level has been in a very slow decline over the past several months. It remains to be seen where there will be an accelerated decline now that the summer tourist season is over and power generation needs may come into play.
The widely discussed “Super El Nino” apparently has not yet affected the northeastern part of the state. However, the long-range forecasters continue to indicate that we should expect a wetter-than-normal winter. Whether the precipitation arrives here as rainfall or snowfall depends on our winter temperatures, something that isn’t as clear cut. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what Mother Nature sends our way.
