After storms, expect several frosty nights

Turn off the sprinklers! After our recent soaking rain, our irrigation systems can take a break.

How much rain did we get? Enough to get our current water year back on track.

According to the National Weather Service, downtown Sacramento has received 4.69 inches since Dec. 1. (That includes 1.71 inches this past weekend.) Normal through Dec. 12 is 1.27 inches and all of December averages 3.25.

This month’s storms help make up for a bone dry October and barely moist November. So far, Sacramento has received 5.75 inches since Oct. 1, the beginning of our “water year.” Normal to date: 3.98 inches.

That means Sacramento’s rain totals are currently at 144% of normal. Yay!

That’s good news for our reservoirs, too.

“The foothill and valley rains have begun to saturate our very dry soils with resulting runoff beginning to filter into the interior NorCal reservoirs,” tweeted the NWS Sacramento office. “Current water storage at Shasta Lake at 31% of capacity, Oroville 29%, Folsom 28% and New Melones at 25%.”

That Folsom Lake percentage is not as bad as it sounds. It’s 69% of historical average for Dec. 12. Still, there’s room for a lot more.

And it illustrates just how dry we were in 2022, likely still the driest year on record in Sacramento history.

We’ll need many more rainy days to make up for our current water deficits – and right now, none is in the forecast. A ridge of high pressure is keeping our skies clear – and cold.

Instead of an umbrella, keep your frost cloths handy and be ready to protect tender plants.

According to the weather service, Sacramento can expect “widespread frost” and overnight lows right around freezing every night through at least Monday.