Storm That Might Or Might Not Hit Vermont Brings Snowy Relief To California

After a disappointing start to the snow season in the California
mountains, a decent but not extreme snowstorm finally hit
this week. Snowfall is still well behind normal in the
Sierra Nevada, though. This storm might or might not
give Vermont some snow Sunday. We'll see. 

The storm that is expected to hit parts of the East Coast this weekend has come ashore in California over the past day, bringing joy to Sierra Nevada mountain snow lovers.   

As of Wednesday evening, meteorologists are still not sure what effect this storm will eventually have on Vermont. 

So far at least, it appears the best chance of a decent snowfall is in southern parts of the state, but that's not a promise. We still don't know for sure. 

But he storm has introduced a glimmer of hope after a disappointing start to the West Coast snow season. 

Last winter a barrage of storms brought near record snowfall to the Sierra Nevada.  You might remember images of many feet of snow on the ground burying houses and turning roads into canyons with walls of snow. 

This year.....not so much.  Snow pack in the Sierra Nevada was just 25 percent of normal for the date, as measured on New Year's Day, just before the storm arrived,  Just like in Vermont, the ski conditions in the Sierra Nevada were disappointing during the Christmas holiday, 

In those western mountains, there's still quite a bit of water in reservoirs and such from last winter's epic snows, so California is not in imminent danger of entering yet another long, insufferable drought. But if this lack of rainfall and snowfall continues through the winter, the familiar water restrictions could return to California next summer. 

Despite the lack of early season snow, the situation is far from hopeless. 

The storm that hit this week wasn't huge by Sierra Nevada standards, with 10 to 24 inches expected. That compares with four feet of snow in some of the more intense storms last winter.  But any moisture helps. 

Also, only relatively light snow is in the forecast for those California mountains over the next week or so.

But more long term, California might be drenched by the current El Nino global weather pattern. El Ninos usually - but not always - bring lots of powerful storms to the Golden State.

Many long range forecasts bring a possible series of storms to the West Coast through the rest of the winter. Those storms aren't guaranteed, but at least the outlook is positive for now. 

Very often, what goes on in California doesn't stay in California. Or the West Coast for that matter. After the storm that just hit the Sierra Nevada finally exits the East Coast later Sunday, there's a possible parade of other storms that will head generally west to east from the Pacific to the Atlantic during this month. 

It could turn out to be an exciting weather month. At least for some parts of the nation.