When the rain stops, watch for it....

Hi,

...Snow on the mountains!

I've been tracking this event for the past six years and it always occurs in November. When it starts happening in December or January, that will be the Vancouver/GVRD benchmark for the effects of climate change and global warming.

Rarely do the first rains of November bring snow, but the second or third will. It will rain like it is now for three to five days and then the skies will clear and the mountains will be dusted with snow.

People are happy because the sun is shining again and the world looks different than it was before the rain began.

And it is beautiful.

All the concern about reservoir low water levels disappear in a matter of days.

For the future, if the global warming trend continues people and governments have to start thinking now about the GVRD's water supply and how to preserve it by reducing the use of water for non-drinking purposes. Rain barrels, cisterns, water meters, using grey water are only a few of the ways that can happen. I'm going to get a rain barrel this winter.

Enjoy the view of the mountains when the sun shines again.

Cheers,

Al

Update: Monday 20 November - As predicted.... The third storm happened Saturday night / Sunday morning. The sun didn't shine brightly, but the cloud deck was high enough for me to see the snow on the mountains. Winter has arrived.