OMG, I hope so. It was a few days ago when I first saw the forecast of showers for late Wednesday night, 9/17 and into the morning of the 18th. Did I celebrate? I did not. Forecasts are, well, forecasts. And I, we in the drought-parched regions of the Western US didn't want to get up any false hopes. Again.
We just want some of this. Now. OK, real soon. Please.
More hopeful thinking below the orange raindrops. . .
Right here I need to add this disclaimer: I know this is not a matter of earth-shaking political, economic, or social importance. Except, in many ways, it is. People, wildlife, and the natural environment in many parts of the West are hurting badly from this drought. (For CA it's not yet as bad as the drought of 1976, but that was awful. Hoping we don't reach those levels.)
I also realize that right now the Southwest is getting slammed by too much rain, from the remnants of Hurricane Odile--which wreaked havoc on Baja California and mainland Mexico in the last few days. And this moisture is a further remnant of that hurricane. My cry of joy is qualified with dismay at that.
Should mention that even in "normal" years (and here in the Bay Area, we have a "Mediterranean" climate: winter wet/summer dry.) "Normally" it doesn't rain (or snow, in higher elevations) much at all outside the October-April time frame.
Having grown up in Northern California, having lived most of my life here, having taught courses in intro physical geography, I am well aware that, as in baseball, there's no crying in climate and weather. But I feel like crying and, so there. And I will when, later this evening, fingers crossed, we in the Bay Area hear the pitter-patter of raindrops on our roofs. I await the extra special sound of the showers/rain/precip on my skylight. And I will anthropomorphize my garden and imagine it sniffing the approaching rain--as I seemed to, this afternoon--and, well, crying in botanical joy.
Some grouchy person tomorrow will bitch about how the rain messed up his or her day. I promise not to be mean to them.
Thu Sep 18, 2014 at 12:11 PM PT: Update: It did rain in the early, early AM. Heard it; didn't really see it. But my garden is very damp, which thrills me. Bay Area got at least a refreshing rinse. Air seems fresh and clean. Fire danger down a bit too. More precip forecast for mid-week, next week. Thanks for sharing last night.