Rising temperatures as a result of climate change are taking a toll, and it’s important to remember that the next big drought year could be right around the corner.The rain-rich storm drenching Central California had flooded some roadways by early Friday morning, and the foothills in eastern Fresno, Madera, and Tulare counties were under flash flood warnings through 11 a.m. In that case, things will start to dry faster than is ideal and greater stress will be put on our landscapes. Higher temperatures could hit us at any time, get to work melting the snow and increasing evaporative demand. Whether that happens depends on the type of weather we see. As for the current load of snow, ideally it will melt slowly over the coming months (usually starting in May), so that the water has an opportunity to percolate deep into the ground, and feed plants, trees, rivers, and reservoirs long into our dry season. Groundwater stores are still in a deficit and will take quite more than just one good year of precipitation to replenish. “It’s just really helping us start to resolve our drought issues in the long term.” “Moving forward, between our reservoirs, the snowpack we have on the hill, as well as the snowpack throughout the entire southwestern U.S., we’re looking pretty favorable for an upcoming year that’ll help bring us out of drought instead of sending us further into it,” Andrew Schwartz, lead scientist and manager at the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab, told LAist 89.3's AirTalk. With more snow in the forecast, it’s time to take a breath and feel good for a moment, because at least drought conditions aren’t getting worse. Check on your neighbors to make sure everyone is safe.Ībout 30% of California's water comes from the snow up in the Sierra, and as of Thursday, the snow levels are at 142% of our April 1 average.Check food carefully for signs of spoilage. Place blocks of ice inside to help keep food cold. Leave the doors of your refrigerator and freezer closed to keep food as fresh as possible.Connecting generators directly to household circuits creates “backfeed,” which is dangerous to repair crews. If you use a generator, place it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into it, using a heavy-duty extension cord.Such equipment can emit carbon monoxide and other toxic gases. Do not use any equipment inside that is designed for outdoor heating or cooking.Do not step in or enter any water that a downed power line may be touching. Water is an excellent conductor of electricity. Then proceed away from the vehicle by shuffling and not picking up your feet until you are several yards away. You must not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time. If you must leave the vehicle, remember to exit away from downed power lines and exit by jumping from the vehicle and landing with both feet together. It is OK to use your cellphone to call 911. If you’re in a vehicle with a fallen power line on it, stay in the vehicle and remain calm until help arrives.Use flashlights for lighting during a power outage do not use candles because they may pose a significant fire hazard. Check the batteries to make sure they are fresh. Make sure you have a battery-operated radio and flashlights.Approach those intersections as four-way stops. Watch for traffic signals that may be out.
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