Soggy holidays ahead as seven days of rain arrive
Santa is going to get soggy. So are your succulents.
Whoever asked for rain this Christmas is getting their wish fulfilled early. According to the National Weather Service, Sacramento is going to get a lot of moisture in the days leading up to Christmas. Starting Friday (Dec. 19), precipitation is in the forecast for seven consecutive days. Coincidentally, Sunday is also the first day of winter.
Besides the rain, Sacramento will also have to deal with strong gusty winds. Tie down (or deflate) those inflatable lawn decorations! Anything not anchored could blow away. Watch out for leaning trees and falling branches.
The heaviest rain is expected to hit next week with a winter storm advisory in effect from 10 p.m. Tuesday through 10 a.m Friday, Dec. 26, says the National Weather Service. That put Christmas Eve and Christmas Day squarely in the crosshairs of this storm system, with “definite rain showers” forecast for all 48 hours of those two days.
A flood watch is also posted for that same period for much of Northern California, especially areas with fire scars.
How much rain? The weather service says the situation is “fluid,” (pun intended). As of 2 p.m Friday, Sacramento can expect a total of 7.12 inches between Friday noon and midnight Christmas Day – more than double the typical total for all of December.
Because this storm originated near Hawaii, the rain and weather will feel comparatively warm with temperatures mostly in the 50s. (That’s why they call it the Pineapple Express.) Heavy snow is expected in the Sierra, but only to about 5,500 feet elevation.
For the latest weather updates: https://www.weather.gov/sto/
Before the deluge arrives, prepare for these rainy days ahead:
* Clear any debris such as fallen leaves and twigs from storm drains and rain gutters.
* Watch out for spots where water may pool around your home – especially the foundation. Add extensions to downspouts so water is directed away from the house.
* Succulents can’t take a lot of cold water, and this rain (even in the 50s) will feel frigid. Cold or warm, too much rain and succulents will rot. Move potted plants to protected spots under eaves or on a covered patio.
* The same advice goes for begonias and geraniums/pelargoniums. If possible, give them some protection from these cold and soggy conditions.
* Remove any saucers under pots. Otherwise, roots may rot from standing in water.
* Don’t plant in soggy ground. Your new transplants – even bare-root roses – may rot.
* Avoid walking on very wet soil. It will compact, squeezing out its vital air pockets.
* Make a note of where water naturally flows in your landscape. You may want to create a rain garden and capture water from future storms.
