Last Wednesday about 1.3 inches of rain were recorded at the Keenwild Ranger Station. This brought the total rainfall at Keenwild, since July 1, to 4.87 inches. This is nearly 1.4 inches or 40 percent greater than the long-term average for rainfall through October.
Further north, at the Vista Grande Fire Station, about 2 inches of rain was recorded.
Although the rainfall is currently ahead of the long-term averages, the National Weather Service expects the winter and spring to remain El Niño neutral.
So no major increase in precipitation is expected this year.
Also, the snowfall Wednesday night and Thursday, while unusual, is not unprecedented for early October.
Pine Cove received more than 2 inches of snow, which is the long-term average for snowfall through November.
The October snow average is only one-third of an inch.
In October 1949, 6 inches of snow were recorded.
Ten years later, in October 1959, 4 inches fell on the Hill and nearly 18 inches at Tahquitz Peak.
The NWS is forecasting clear and warmer temperatures for the rest of this week.
