A cold night as we head into your Wednesday night with temperatures dropping into the mid 20's. Winds will remain a bit breezy tonight out of the northwest. Drier air has moved into the area as high pressure will continue to settle in over our area. Cooler temperatures will continue on Thursday with lots of sunshine and a few passing clouds. Temperatures will really start to warm up again Friday into the weekend with highs back in the 70s. Winds will be a bit breezy this weekend. Conditions look to stay dry through the weekend with rain chances and possibly a few thunderstorms returning on Monday.
California’s hopes for a wet “March miracle” did not materialize and a dousing of April showers may as well be a mirage at this point.
The state appears in the midst of another drought only a few years after a punishing 5-year dry spell dried up rural wells, killed endangered salmon, idled farm fields and helped fuel the most deadly and destructive wildfires in modern state history.
“We’re looking at the second dry year in a row. In California that pretty much means we have a drought,” said Jay Lund, a civil and environmental engineering professor at the University of California, Davis.
In fact, the entire West is gripped in what scientists consider a “megadrought” that started in 1999 and has been interrupted by only occasional years with above-average precipitation. In California, the heaviest rain and snow comes in the winter months, but not this year — about 90% of the state already is experiencing drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Much of California’s water comes from mountain snow in the Sierra Nevada that melts during the spring and summer and feeds rivers and streams that in turn fill reservoirs. The Sierra snowpack traditionally holds its peak water content on April 1 and the state will take a survey Thursday to determine the level. Last month, a survey showed just 60% of the average.
Four years ago, when then-Gov. Jerry Brown officially declared an end to a statewide drought emergency, he said conservation should continue, warning “the next drought could be around the corner.”
It’s arrival will mean different things depending on where people live.
The 2012-2016 drought required some sacrifice from everyone as Brown ordered a 25% reduction in water use. Residents took shorter showers, flushed less frequently and let their cars get dirty. Many homeowners replaced their lawns with artificial grass or desert succulents.
Such restrictions are less likely this time around because municipal supplies are in better shape and water use has not returned to previous levels, said Caitrin Chappelle of the Public Policy Institute of California. The Metropolitan Water District, which sells water to public agencies serving about half the state’s 40 million residents, has a record high water supply.
But efforts to restore depleted groundwater aquifers or keep river flows high and water temperatures low enough for the winter-run Chinook salmon that almost went extinct on the Sacramento River during the drought, are not as far along.
“The time in between the end of the last drought and, possibly, the beginning of this next one isn’t that long,” Chappelle said. ”They have started doing a better job of planning for it, it’s just whether or not they’ve had enough time to prepare before the emergency hits again.”
The Sierra snowpack provides about 30% of California’s water and the Department of Water Resources measurement is key to forecasting how much can be allocated to farms and municipalities under a complex system of water rights laws that spell out what each user is entitled. The department already warned 40,000 water rights holders they will probably only get 5% of the amount they requested.
“Guys are in a really tough spot when they don’t know what water’s going to be available until the planting season, which is now,” said Danny Merkley of the California Farm Bureau Federation.
With less water to draw from rivers and the state’s intricate network of canals and aqueducts, farmers fallowed hundreds of thousands of additional acres.
Growers will likely do the same thing again, idling low-value row crops such as tomatoes, lettuce or onions, to commit their precious groundwater to high-value permanent crops like almonds, pistachios and wine grapes, Merkley said.
Tapping those wells could have ramifications for their neighbors. During the last drought, agribusiness was blamed for over-pumping groundwater, causing the land to sink and wells in some poor rural communities to go dry.
Lawmakers for the first time decided to regulate groundwater and require plans in the next two decades to stop over-pumping from aquifers. But groundwater levels have not fully recovered from the last drought with another looming.
In Tombstone Territory, an unincorporated area surrounded by orchards outside Fresno, three-quarters of the 50 homes lost their well water during the last drought, said Amanda Monaco of the Leadership Counsel For Justice & Accountability. Many residents are farmworkers who can’t afford the $20,000 required to dig a deeper well.
“If we’re headed back into a drought that means potential devastation for communities that we work with,” Monaco said. “They’re terrified that kind of thing could happen again.”
Ray Cano was one of the first Tombstone residents to lose his well water in 2015.
“It started spitting air and then nothing came out of it,” Cano said.
His next door neighbor ran a hose over while Cano had his pump replaced and lowered deeper in the well. Cano returned the favor later that year when the neighbor’s well dried up.
Even now that their wells are working, the water quality is so poor that residents are provided 50 gallons (190 litres) of drinking water a month under a grant.
With less snow and temperatures warming due to climate change, another bad fire season is likely on the way, said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles.
The state largely escaped fire devastation during the previous drought, but has suffered terribly since, after 100 million trees died and vegetation remained dry as a result of the drought. Since 2015, the state has experienced the largest, most destructive and deadliest fires in recorded state history;
Lund found that the drought caused about $10 billion in damages statewide, without direct loss of life. But the wildfires after caused a record of over $55 billion in direct property losses and 175 direct deaths, with possibly many other deaths and economic impacts due to weeks of widespread air pollution from smoke.
“The interesting thing about these other drought impacts is they happened after the drought ended,” Lund said.
Spokane missed out on more than an inch of normal precipitation.
SPOKANE, Wash. — March was a dry month for Washington state. From coastal shores of the Pacific to the foothills of the Northern Rockies, many locations closed out the month with a significant lack of precipitation.
The abnormally dry conditions are playing a role in the weather across the Inland Northwest. Everything from the temperatures to the dust storm this past weekend to the day-to-day temperatures correlates to recent moisture or lack thereof.
The dry ground of central Washington contributed to Sunday’s dust storm. All of the loose top soil was picked up by the strong winds and stirred into the atmosphere. Some of that dust and dirt traveled pretty far as the storm moved east.
March contributed to ongoing drought conditions for parts of Washington. Parts of central and south central Washington are under severe drought conditions, totaling just under 4% of the state. Add in moderate drought conditions and that number jumps to almost 10% of the state, with much of central Washington reporting abnormally dry conditions.
When it comes to total precipitation many of Washington state’s biggest cities are more than an inch shy of what is normal for the month in terms of rain or the melted snow equivalent. In Spokane, that is more than ¾ of our March moisture. Even Seattle came up an inch short. Not as big of a percentage, but a noticeable drop.
There is a little good news hiding in the data. Higher elevations are sitting close to normal in terms of snow-water equivalent. The reason that is good news is the mountain snow-melt plays a big role in water presence as it melts in the summer.
It is still early in the year and there is plenty of time for the state to catch up on moisture. The dry season doesn’t really arrive until July. The month of may typically offers a decent amount of rain for Spokane and the Inland Northwest.
April 01, 2021 at 04:15AM
https://www.krem.com/article/weather/spokane-washington-close-out-abnormally-dry-march/293-6b7ff3db-d701-4e9a-8eaf-2fe5470fcf4e
Spokane, Washington state close out abnormally dry March - KREM.com
SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday said the state will hire nearly 1,400 additional firefighters as an unusually dry winter stokes fears of another devastating wildfire season.
California depends on snowfall in the mountains for much of its water. But the latest snow survey recorded a statewide “snow water equivalent” of just 15 inches, or about 54% of average for April 1, when the state's snowpack is the deepest.
The state had a similarly dry winter last year. What followed was a record-setting wildfire season where more than 4% of the state's land burned, destroying nearly 10,500 buildings and killing 33 people.
Tuesday, Newsom said he was using his emergency authority to spend $80.74 million to hire 1,399 additional firefighters at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, better known as Cal Fire. More than 19,000 firefighters battled blazes in California last year.
“We aren't just waiting for the next crisis to hit — this funding will support our heroic firefighters to save lives as they work to prevent and tackle destructive wildfires,” Newsom said in a news release.
Most of the new firefighters will be seasonal through June 30. Newsom said Cal Fire will assign 1,256 firefighters to eight understaffed fire crews.
Another 24 firefighters will join the California National Guard hand crews who work to get rid of dead trees and other brush that fuel fires. Newsom said 119 firefighters will join crews trained to drop in wildfire zones via helicopter.
While Newsom's moves will bolster the state's seasonal firefighting crews, the state's two U.S. senators and nearly two dozen of its Congressional representatives asked the Biden administration on Monday to establish a year-round wildland firefighting force.
California's peak wildfire season typically runs from the summer through late fall. But wildfires can happen anytime, especially in dry weather conditions. A fire in Siskiyou County near the Oregon border that started on Saturday burned 1.3 square miles before it was contained, according to Cal Fire.
The three water districts serving from Pacifica through Half Moon Bay are split on whether residents will have to cut back on water use this year. While the Coastside County Water District and North Coast Water District said there is not yet cause for concern, the Montara Water and Sanitation District is heeding early warnings from the California State Water Resources Control Board.
In a March 22 statement, the state water board said it mailed early warnings to 40,000 water rights holders “urging them to plan for potential shortages by reducing water use and adopting practical conservation measures.” The mailed notices don’t appear to apply to the three water districts, which cover much of the area from the northern Pacifica city line south to Miramontes Point Road in Half Moon Bay. But already they are interpreting the state’s warning of dry conditions differently.
Clemens Heldmaier, general manager for MWSD, said he anticipates residents will have to conserve this year, though official notices haven’t been issued yet. He said he’s closely monitoring the state’s messages and said MWSD will follow the state’s direction.
“I think it’s important that the message stays consistent throughout the state,” Heldmaier said.
The Coastside County and North Coast County water districts are not ready to make any pronouncements — at least not yet. A more definitive answer about whether their users need to adopt stricter conservation measures would come from their water supplier, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. So far, no word of warning has been issued.
Adrianne Carr, general manager for North County, which serves Pacifica, said the SFPUC will announce in April whether the district has to cut back its water use. But in a March 1 update, SFPUC said it didn’t anticipate having to make such a call, Carr said. The CCWD also said it will wait until the SFPUC’s April update to make a decision.
“Right now, we have no plans to require any mandatory rationing or cutbacks from customers,” said Cathleen Brennan, water resources analyst of CCWD. “We have enough water to supply average demand through the rest of the calendar year.”
CCWD and North County get much of their water from SFPUC. The Pacifica district relies entirely on SFPUC’s reservoirs. Meanwhile, CCWD district gets between 50 and 60 percent from those same reservoirs, and gets the remainder from local sources.
In contrast, MWSD relies entirely on its own local groundwater and surface water sources. Heldmaier said this puts MWSD in a position to independently issue cutbacks modeled after the state, even if the Montara’s local water supply is adequate.
By all measures, this year is looking dry relative to other years. Locally, a rain gauge in Montara storage facility on Alta Vista Road shows that rainfall is about 40 percent of normal. Last year, levels were half the normal rainfall.
March 31, 2021 at 10:43PM
https://www.hmbreview.com/news/water-districts-differ-on-response-to-dry-year/article_cc7f5714-9237-11eb-8b69-b72ebc10904d.html
Water districts differ on response to dry year - Half Moon Bay Review
Whether you want to give your hair a much-needed break from heat-styling, or you simply don’t have anywhere to go, air-drying your hair can save you time and money.
But is air-drying your hair good or bad in the long run? If you Google this exact question, you’ll get a multitude of varying answers.
Ultimately, whether you should air dry your hair will mostly likely come down to your specific hair type.
Whether it’s a tried-and-true skin care regimen, how often you wash your hair, or the cosmetics you’re curious about, beauty is personal.
That’s why we rely on a diverse group of writers, educators, and other experts to share their tips on everything from the way product application varies to the best sheet mask for your individual needs.
We only recommend something we genuinely love, so if you see a shop link to a specific product or brand, know that it’s been thoroughly researched by our team.
When you air-dry your hair, you maximize the amount of time your hair retains moisture. Although this seems like something that would be good for your hair, it can actually be harmful over time.
“Air-drying works best when the hair is damp, but I strongly advise against air-drying straight from when it’s soaking wet,” says Takisha Sturdivant-Drew, a celebrity hair stylist and the founder of hair extension line TSD Hair. “The longer your hair stays wet, the more the cortex of your hair will swell and break, resulting in brittle ends and lots of flyaways.”
A 2011 study supports that assertion. It found that, though hair dried with increasing levels of heat showed surface damage, hair that was air-dried showed more damage to its cortex.
It turns out, some types of hair are more susceptible to this.
“Thick hair can absorb a lot of water and be prone to more damage, as hair is weakest when wet,” says Shaun Pulfrey, a hair stylist and the founder of Tangle Teezer. “But thin hair is less likely to absorb water, and it will be less susceptible to this damage.”
It can be!
Overusing your hair dryer or other heat-styling tools can eventually damage your hair. This happens because a dryer blows intense, focused heat directly onto your hair, which causes hair to lose all moisture right away. This can lead to dehydrated strands that break more easily.
That same 2011 study above also found that the higher the heat level (which researchers simulated by shortening the distance between the hair dryer and hair), the more cracks they saw in the hair cuticle.
So, if you’re someone who relies on your trusty hair dryer every day, it may pay to give your locks a break sometimes by air-drying your hair.
Pulfrey says your best bet is a combination of air- and blow-drying. “If you have the luxury of time, leave your hair to air-dry … for about half an hour. And then blow-dry it the rest of the way on the lowest setting,” he says.
People with fine, wavy, straight, thin, curly, and dyed hair are the most likely to benefit from air-drying.
“It’s healthier for people with this hair type because [air-drying] lacks heat, and it’s not directly on the scalp,” Sturdivant-Drew says.
Conversely, if you have thick, coarse, kinky, or relaxed hair, you may want to apply a protective product to your hair before you start. This will help prevent your locks from drying out.
Air-drying your hair in a way that prevents weakened strands and provides good styling requires time and a few key techniques.
No matter your hair type, you’ll want to set yourself up for success by first washing your hair with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. This can help keep frizz at bay.
Folks with curly or coily hair might want to try a co-wash, like the Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Curl Cleansing Conditioner. Reviewers with all curl types love the lavender scent, and say that the co-wash helps them maintain healthy, shiny, bouncy locks.
Next, gently towel-dry your hair as best as you can. Blot softly, focusing on your roots, until your hair is still wet but not dripping or soaking anymore. Try not to roughly rub or tousle your hair.
How you finish the process will depend on your specific hair type.
If your hair is wavy
Step 1
After you shampoo and condition your hair, brush it out with a comb, such as the Tangle Teezer Original Brush, which is designed to be used on both wet and dry hair.
Step 2
Apply a mix of light gel and cream together in your palm. “Apply by patting the product from mid-length to the ends. Then, gently squeeze the product into the hair with a scrunching motion,” says Penny James, a trichologist and the founder of New York-based Penny James Salon.
Step 3
“Leave [it] alone until completely dry. Then, you can run your hands through your hair and get nice wavy, unfrizzy hair,” James adds.
“Take organized, 2-inch sections of hair, starting from the sides of [your] head, and twist the hair,” James says. “Do this all over the scalp until your hair is now stretched into a new shape.”
Step 3
“Once dry, you can gently un-twist your hair, and you will have popping curls,” James adds.
If your hair is fine
Step 1
After washing your hair, simply use a wide-tooth comb to part your hair the way you normally would. Let it sit and dry without any additional products.
“If your hair is cut into a lob, tuck it behind your ears and let it set that way,” James says. “Once dry, you can release from behind [your] ears. It creates a nice soft face-framing wave.”
The most important thing you can do to prevent frizz is to make sure your hair is hydrated.
Afterward, use a detangler. This can help distribute hair masks and oils through wet hair.
Air-drying your hair can be a great way to give your locks a much-needed break from heat-styling.
However, if your hair is on the thicker and coarser side, it may be best to start with a protective product and use a blow-dryer to keep your hair from absorbing too much moisture and causing breakage.
Mellanie Perez is an editor on the wellness team at Healthline. When not covering all things health, beauty, and wellness, she can be found making pizzas from scratch, trying a new workout routine, reading fiction novels, discovering new songs on Spotify, and traveling the world. A native of Puerto Rico, she sashays through life, humming salsa songs under her breath and battling the most incessant need to stand up and twirl.
Do you suffer from dandruff or a dry, itchy scalp? It can be overwhelming (and time consuming) to figure out the best course of action to combat these symptoms and get scalp relief fast. To cut through the clutter on the shampoo shelves, we tapped scalp health expert and master stylist Diane Stevens to get her take on the best shampoos for itchy scalps.
It’s a common misconception that you shouldn’t wash your hair when you are experiencing a dry, itchy or flakey scalp, but Stevens disagrees. “The best way to encourage a healthy scalp and avoid a dry and itchy scalp is to keep your scalp clean and refreshed,” said Stevens.
Ingredient selection is also key to getting rid of dry scalp. “Any product containing aloe, pyrithione zinc, or green tea will make the scalp feel much better,” she said. In terms of products to avoid, she recommends steering clear of scalp treatment shampoos with parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, and formaldehyde, as well as anything with citrus. These types of ingredients have been known to dry the scalp out more and may cause more irritation and itching.
But truly maintaining a healthy, itch-free scalp isn’t only about selecting the right dry scalp shampoo. It’s important to look at your lifestyle in a holistic way and make sure you’re eating right in addition to using the right hair and scalp products. Our scalp expert Stevens also recommends drinking plenty of water and maintaining a healthy diet, especially staying away from greasy and salty foods. Doing these things while using the right dry scalp shampoo for you will help you to avoid flakes, dandruff, itchiness, and other symptoms of unhealthy scalps.
Ready to find the right scalp shampoo for you? Read on to learn more about the expert-recommended shampoos to soothe your scalp.
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Expert-Recommended Dry Scalp Shampoo
NIOXIN Scalp Recovery System Kit with Pyrithione Zinc
amazon.com
$45.50
“I highly recommend Nioxin Scalp Relief Kit for a great cleansing shampoo,” said Stevens. “It contains aloe vera, an anti-inflammatory ingredient to soothe the scalp, help increase softness or smoothness of hair. It also reduces tangles and hair surface roughness.”
Charcoal and coconut oil are also two ingredients that help soothe and treat the scalp. Biogeo's cult classic Scalp Revival shampoo exfoliates the scalp to remove any buildup that might be contributing to your discomfortant.
Head & Shoulders Itchy Scalp Care Daily-Use Anti-Dandruff
Head & Shoulders Itchy Scalp Care Shampoo is safe enough for daily use and it's a paraben-free option that fits the bill of Stevens' expert recommendation.
Yes To Naturals Tea Tree & Sage Oil Scalp Relief Shampoo for Dry & Itchy Scalp
Tea tree oil relieves a multitude of skin ailments including acne, thanks to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It's a great option for itchy scalps as it will help to clean and purify while providing a soothing feeling on the scalp.
DERMA-E Scalp Relief Shampoo with Psorzema Herbal Blend
DERMA-E's answer to scalp relief comes complete with a specific herbal blend that works in four ways to gently cleanse, de-flake, soothe, and nourish the scalp and hair.
Mustela Stelatopia Foam Shampoo
Mustela's Stelatopia Foam Shampoo is actually designed for use on newborn babies, so you know it's formulated with gentle ingredients. This one is great for eczema-prone skin and will help ease your urge to itch.
Aveeno Scalp Soothing Shampoo, Apple Cider Vinegar Blend
amazon.com
$8.99
$6.97 (22% off)
If you need to truly clarify your scalp and remove buildup that causes dryness and itch, grab Aveeno's Soothing Shampoo. This one is formulated with apple cider vinegar, known to clean the scalp while also adding shine to your hair.
Philip Kingsley Flaky Scalp Cleansing Shampoo
Philip Kingsley Flaky Scalp Cleansing Shampoo is a little pricier than some others on our list, but many swear by it to soothe dry, itchy scalps. It's vegan, paraben-free, and packed with calming ingredients including anti-fungal Piroctone Olamine and Lauryl Betaine, which cleanses without redness or irritation.
Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
$17.17
$14.84 (14% off)
Nizoral battles dandruff while controlling flaking, scaling, and itching thanks to its formulation with ketoconazole 1%. It's also gentle enough to use on color and chemically-treated hair.
Matrix Biolage Cooling Mint Scalpsync Shampoo
If you crave the cooling sensation to relieve your scalp irritation, this Biolage shampoo is a great option. It cleanses excess oil from the scalp and hair and awakens with a cool, refreshing feeling.
Oribe Serene Scalp Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Oribe is one of the most luxurious (and expensive) shampoos on our list, but it contains many of our expert-recommended ingredients like Niacinamide. "Niacinamide is a derivative of Vitamin B3 that increases body, suppleness, and shine by improving the texture of damaged hair," Stevens said.
The Body Shop Ginger Scalp Care Shampoo
ulta.com
$11.00
Another invigorating option, The Body Shop's shampoo refreshes the scalp with ginger extract. It also contains birch bark extract and white willow bark extract to clarify and soothe.
Neutrogena T/Gel Daily Control 2-in-1 Anti-Dandruff Shampoo Plus Conditioner
$6.79
$5.68 (16% off)
In a hurry? If you want to both shampoo and condition in one swoop, Neutrogena's Daily Control 2-in-1 Anti-Dandruff Shampoos is the one for you.
Dove Nourishing Secrets Shampoo
amazon.com
$29.94
$20.99 (30% off)
Dove's Nourishing Secrets Shampoo uses hydrating ingredients to bring dry scalps back to optimal health. It also keeps your hair itself from getting dry and brittle for overall hydration and moisture.
Redken Scalp Relief Dandruff Control Shampoo
Another great option is this salon-quality shampoo from Redkend. The brand's Scalp Relief Dandruff Control Shampoo contains pyrithione zinc as its star ingredient, one of the key things Stevens recommends to keep scalps at their healthiest.
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday said the state will hire nearly 1,400 additional firefighters as an unusually dry winter stokes fears of another devastating wildfire season.
California depends on snowfall in the mountains for much of its water. But the latest snow survey recorded a statewide “snow water equivalent” of just 15 inches, or about 54% of average for April 1, when the state's snowpack is the deepest.
The state had a similarly dry winter last year. What followed was a record-setting wildfire season where more than 4% of the state's land burned, destroying nearly 10,500 buildings and killing 33 people.
Tuesday, Newsom said he was using his emergency authority to spend $80.74 million to hire 1,399 additional firefighters at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, better known as Cal Fire. More than 19,000 firefighters battled blazes in California last year.
“We aren't just waiting for the next crisis to hit — this funding will support our heroic firefighters to save lives as they work to prevent and tackle destructive wildfires,” Newsom said in a news release.
Most of the new firefighters will be seasonal through June 30. Newsom said Cal Fire will assign 1,256 firefighters to eight understaffed fire crews.
Another 24 firefighters will join the California National Guard hand crews who work to get rid of dead trees and other brush that fuel fires. Newsom said 119 firefighters will join crews trained to drop in wildfire zones via helicopter.
While Newsom's moves will bolster the state's seasonal firefighting crews, the state's two U.S. senators and nearly two dozen of its Congressional representatives asked the Biden administration on Monday to establish a year-round wildland firefighting force.
California's peak wildfire season typically runs from the summer through late fall. But wildfires can happen anytime, especially in dry weather conditions. A fire in Siskiyou County near the Oregon border that started on Saturday burned 1.3 square miles before it was contained, according to Cal Fire.
March 31, 2021 at 06:27AM
http://www.elpasoinc.com/news/texas/california-to-add-nearly-1-400-firefighters-amid-dry-weather/article_d0bd9990-62cc-54a0-9b27-0aa23a794b9b.html
California to add nearly 1400 firefighters amid dry weather - El Paso Inc.
As the rain season comes to a close across Northern California, water districts are keeping a close eye on rain totals that are below average, and water managers are explaining what another "dry water year" means for our region.According to California's Department of Water Resources, or DWR, the state is well into its second consecutive dry year. That causes concern among water managers. However, it comes as no surprise."This is typical for California. We're a Mediterranean climate," said DWR information officer Chris Orrock. "We go from historically wet years to historically dry periods."In a recent statement, DWR director Karla Nemeth said, "The Department of Water Resources is working with our federal and state partners to plan for the impacts of limited water supplies this summer for agriculture as well as urban and rural water users. We encourage everyone to look for ways to use water efficiently in their everyday lives.”With the memory of drought years between 2012 and 2016 not too distant, Orrock explained how lessons learned from that time period are still being implemented."It wasn't that long ago that we came out of that historic drought, and California residents really stepped up at the end of that drought," he said. " really started conserving water, and more importantly, using it more efficiently."San Juan Water District general manager Paul Helliker said steps people took to do their part were lasting."People took to heart the lessons that we learned back then, and consumption levels dropped by 30%," he explained. "And they haven't really come back up."Demands on the precious resource of water, however, are made by more than just residents. From the agriculture industry to endangered species protection, water agencies across the state need to think about each interest's need for water from our area's reservoirs."One of the issues that we all have to deal with in the state is the balance between what the environment needs and what people need," Helliker said.He said he's mainly concerned about what happens if next year is dry."If this next coming winter is dry then we're going to be in serious drought control,” Helliker said.Last week, DWR released its State Water Project allocation for the 2021 water year.The department expects to deliver 5% of requested supplies this year. That's down from an initial allocation of 10% announced in December.DWR said it might make adjustments to those allocations after its April 1 snowpack survey.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
As the rain season comes to a close across Northern California, water districts are keeping a close eye on rain totals that are below average, and water managers are explaining what another "dry water year" means for our region.
According to California's Department of Water Resources, or DWR, the state is well into its second consecutive dry year. That causes concern among water managers. However, it comes as no surprise.
"This is typical for California. We're a Mediterranean climate," said DWR information officer Chris Orrock. "We go from historically wet years to historically dry periods."
In a recent statement, DWR director Karla Nemeth said, "The Department of Water Resources is working with our federal and state partners to plan for the impacts of limited water supplies this summer for agriculture as well as urban and rural water users. We encourage everyone to look for ways to use water efficiently in their everyday lives.”
With the memory of drought years between 2012 and 2016 not too distant, Orrock explained how lessons learned from that time period are still being implemented.
"It wasn't that long ago that we came out of that historic drought, and California residents really stepped up at the end of that drought," he said. "[They] really started conserving water, and more importantly, using it more efficiently."
San Juan Water District general manager Paul Helliker said steps people took to do their part were lasting.
"People took to heart the lessons that we learned back then, and consumption levels dropped by 30%," he explained. "And they haven't really come back up."
Demands on the precious resource of water, however, are made by more than just residents. From the agriculture industry to endangered species protection, water agencies across the state need to think about each interest's need for water from our area's reservoirs.
"One of the issues that we all have to deal with in the state is the balance between what the environment needs and what people need," Helliker said.
He said he's mainly concerned about what happens if next year is dry.
"If this next coming winter is dry then we're going to be in serious drought control,” Helliker said.
A FLOOD WATCH GOES INTO EFFECT WEDNESDAY FROM 2AM TO 8PM FOR MCDOWELL COUNTY
Today warmer weather is on the way as winds shift out of the south, we’ll still be cool during the morning into the 30s but the afternoon takes us back into the upper 60s. Little room to complain there. The sun is out for a majority of the day but by the evening and overnight hours clouds will thicken up as rain moves in for Wednesday.
Wednesday, we’re fairly cloudy and rainy, especially in the afternoon hours where a few thunderstorms remain in the forecast. The heaviest rain looks to be early and through the afternoon. Temperatures will fall very quickly from the 60s into the 20s by the late evening.
Some storms could be on the strong side Wednesday afternoon. Right now it looks like the best threat for severe weather will be further to our south and east, but some storms could still produce gusty winds and will likely produce very heavy rainfall. As a result we do have a small risk for flooding across the region.
Thursday we get a harsh reality check. Snow showers are likely throughout the first half of the morning, particularly through the western half of the area. It will be difficult for it to stick but some elevated surfaces, including bridges and overpasses are likely to become slick. Morning temperatures will be in the 20s and afternoon highs will only be in the mid-30s for most. Give yourself time for the morning commute.
Friday, we start out even colder into the teens. At least this time it’s drier, skies should be clear by this point thanks to high pressure. Highs only climb to the mid and upper 30s again with a few spots nearing 40 degrees.
Saturday we make a quick recovery back into the 50s with more sunshine. Overall it should be a fairly nice day for everyone. Sunday rounding out the weekend also looks great with many being able to break into the 60s once again with abundant sunshine. It will be a very nice Easter Sunday!
In the extended forecast we continue or warm up into next week. High pressure looks to maintain it’s influence too so most of us should be seeing sunny skies!
Be sure to follow the StormTracker 59 team on Facebook and Twitter for updates, and don’t forget to download the StormTracker 59 app which is available on Google Play and the App Store. Spring is nearly upon us, it’s time to start your severe weather season preparations, including purchasing a NOAA weather radio for your home.
TUESDAY: Warmer, increasing clouds late. Highs in the 60s. WEDNESDAY:
Rain, thunderstorms, breezy. Mixing late. Highs in the 50s. THURSDAY:
Overcast, chances for rain/snow early. Highs in the 30s. FRIDAY:
Drying out. Highs in the low 40s. SATURDAY:
Mostly cloudy. Highs in the 50s. SUNDAY:
Cloudy. Highs in the upper 50. MONDAY: Quiet. Highs in the 60s TUESDAY:
Still quiet. Highs in the 60s and 70s. WEDNESDAY:
Odd chance for some rain. Highs in the 60s. THURSDAY: Still unsettled. Highs in the 60s.
Dry Cleaning – the London-based quartet composed of drummer Nick Buxton, guitarist Tom Dowse, bassist Lewis Maynard, and vocalist Florence Shaw – have released a new single titled ‘Unsmart Lady’. The track is the latest offering from the band’s upcoming album New Long Legand arrives with an accompanying video directed by Tilly Shiner. Watch it below.
““Fat podgy, non make-up’ – I was thinking about these things that are supposed to be a source of shame about your appearance and wanting to use them in a powerful way,” Florence Shaw explained in a statement. “Just trying to survive when you feel knackered and put-upon and shit about yourself, but you say, ‘I don’t care what I’m supposed to be.’”
New Long Leg, Dry Cleaning’s first LP since signing to 4AD, is due out this Friday (April 2). Previously, the band released the singles ‘Strong Feelings’ and ‘Scratchcard Lanyard’.
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March 30, 2021 at 11:47AM
https://www.kctv5.com/weather/forecast-string-of-dry-days-to-continue-through-end-of-month/video_344e065c-549a-566c-8dca-4e202f6d086c.html?block_id=991162
FORECAST: String of dry days to continue through end of month - KCTV Kansas City
WACO, Texas – Despite all of the severe weather we’ve seen these past few weeks, most of Central Texas is still experiencing drought conditions.
This means we haven’t seen a lot of rain over the past few months. In fact, we’ve seen below-average rain totals for both January and February this year.
These dry conditions can create a few hazards, such as brush fires.
“We basically have some conditions, elevated conditions, for brush fires. We’ve got lower humidity below 30 percent and breezy conditions,” says Madison Gordon, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
Brush fires are not uncommon in Central Texas, but there are ways to prevent them.
“Be really diligent with any outdoor activity that could cause a spark. If conditions are really hot and dry, and a little bit windy, it’s little things that we don’t really think about that can start a fire and cause it to grow rapidly,” says Erin O’Connor, a Public Information Officer with the Texas A&M Forest Service.
“Don’t toss any lit cigarettes, check tow chains, don’t park or drive over tall grass, make sure your campfire is being attended, and don’t do unnecessary burning,” says Gordon.
Keeping your grass cut will also help prevent brush fires from popping up.
“Just be really careful and stay aware of weather conditions, and making sure that we are being really safe out there,” says O’Connor.
We typically see more rain in April and May, which may help alleviate the drought conditions, but this isn’t always a guarantee.
“I would still keep your eye on it. We can’t guarantee it’s going to go away anytime soon, and it just depends on the local precipitation amounts,” says Gordon.
Zips Dry Cleaners touts its same-day service model with a flat price of $2.49 per item.
Brothers Visesh and Vishal Velagapudi were putting in 16-hour days as they grew Stokos, the restaurant concept created by their father, to five locations throughout Baltimore. Talking with other family members involved in franchising, “we saw their quality of life was better,” recalled Visesh Velagapudi, a realization that last year prompted the brothers to research concepts.
“The first thing I was looking for was scalability and then longevity—will this product or service exist 10 to 15 years from now,” said Velagapudi of wanting a business that could “survive recessions or a changing political landscape.” Before October 2020, he continued, a dry cleaning company wasn’t on his radar, but then he discovered Zips Dry Cleaners, a Greenbelt, Maryland-based brand with about 70 locations.
Velagapudi and his brother signed an eight-unit franchise agreement to bring Zips to Charlotte, North Carolina, where the two also own residential rental properties and where Velagapudi will relocate. The Zips model of same-day service and a flat price of $2.49 per item will do well in Charlotte, according to Velagapudi, as IT and finance companies have drawn a growing professional population and the median household income is nearing $63,000. Conversations with more than 20 franchisees in Maryland and Pennsylvania further bolstered Velagapudi’s confidence as he compared answers to his questions on how long it took to develop revenue and performance during the last recession.
Visesh Velagapudi
“And I asked, how did COVID affect your business,” he said. “Ninety percent said the business all came back within three months, even with work-from-home and people not going into the office.” Average unit volume in 2019 was $1.1 million, with average net income before general and administrative expenses of $362,539. The investment amount to open a Zips ranges from $745,700 to $1.3 million.
Velagapudi wants to open his first location by August, and he noted he has ideas for adding delivery and concierge services in partnership with apartments and condominiums, ideas the franchisor is “very open to.” “I have the ability to speak my mind,” he said, another positive of the Zips system.
Quick Hits
Mountain Mike’s Pizza will expand in Utah after signing an area development deal with Pelican Food Concepts for 30 locations. Under the agreement, Pelican, led by CEO Donte’ Andry, has exclusive development rights in the state and will operate its own stores in addition to bringing on franchisees.
Dave’s Hot Chicken signed an agreement with Damm Fine Chicken to open 20 restaurants throughout central California. The group is also a Blaze Pizza franchisee under the name Damm Fine Pizza with 20-plus stores.
Scooter’s Coffee will expand its Oklahoma footprint through a new deal with existing franchisees Jason and Rita Metcalf of Metcalf Coffee Oklahoma Inc. The family will open another 26 stores in the Oklahoma City market and also purchase 13 corporate Scooter’s stores in the area.
Massage Heights will open two locations in the Dallas market after signing a multi-unit deal with Ryan Simmons, whose first location is expected to open in July in the city’s Uptown neighborhood.
El Pollo Loco inked new agreements with existing franchisees in Louisiana and California. Listo Way Group will open two more locations, in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles. Peglion, El Pollo Loco’s second-largest franchisee with 34 restaurants in Southern California, committed to opening three more locations in the San Diego area.
Hammer & Nails Grooming Shop for Guys signed an area developer agreement in Florida with Rick Sander. Sander will open two grooming shops of his own in Naples, then bring on franchisees to open 17 additional locations along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
March 29, 2021 at 11:29PM
https://www.franchisetimes.com/franchise_development/scalability-of-zips-dry-cleaners-attracts-new-franchisee/article_8d75fb00-8caf-11eb-b7d5-37c68396cbe4.html
Scalability of Zips Dry Cleaners Attracts New Franchisee - Franchise Times
Good Monday evening/night! We hope you had a great weekend and hope it's a great weekend ahead.
More clouds with some rain/snow showers and breezy conditions were the story to end the weekend.
At least the start of the week will be brighter and warmer. However, we're on the temperature roller coaster ride leading up to the holiday weekend.
Here's the latest forecast!
Tonight
Skies will remain mostly clear through the evening and overnight.
Lows tonight will be warmer than last night. Lows dropping into the upper 30s and low 40s.
Lows Tonight
maxuser
Winds increasing from the south around 10-20 mph; gusting near 25+.
Tuesday
Trends will slowly increase cloud cover throughout the day, but most of the morning and afternoon hours should stay dry.
Winds will be another topic of discussion throughout the day. Mainly again from the south around 15-25 mph; gusting near 30+ at times.
Tuesday Winds
maxuser
Highs Tuesday will be much warmer by the afternoon; reaching in the 60s for most.
We watch Tuesday evening into early Wednesday morning for another light round of some showers. Looking at around 0.10" or less when all is said and done. On the high end near 0.25". We'll keep you updated.
Rain Tuesday Night
maxuser
Temperature Swing
Temperatures will be another big topic of discussion with big jumps up and down throughout the week.
Here's the latest look at where we land for the upcoming week.
Temp Trend
maxuser
Remember, you can always get your full First Warn 5 7-Day Forecast, whenever it's convenient for you, right here!
