Picture: Cumulonimbus storm cloud over pond and forest, Crescent City, California
As some of you may know, I’ve been away for the last few weeks, venturing throughout northern California. I’ve been to Yosemite, The Redwoods, and visited numerous waterfalls in the northern part of the state. The over-riding theme of this period in my coverage has been Water. It was either raining, threatening to rain, not raining when every forecast said it was supposed to be raining. If it wasn’t raining on my head, I was enjoying watching it flow over rocks in rivers and falling off cliffs.
This has been one of the truly great wet winter-springs that I can recall in northern California. Just today, on this 4th day of June, San Francisco just beat it’s own June Rainfall totals record that was previously set back in 1934. As I sit here in my office, I’m seeing some of the heaviest rain I’ve seen since March. One good thing has been a result. I’ve seen more water in Shasta Lake than I’ve seen in a long time. I last visited the area in October 2009 when California was in the midst of a several years-long drought. This last week, I returned to the same spots I’d previously shot to find that the lake was full, as in it simply can’t hold any more water without flooding the established shoreline foliage.
Shasta Lake in Oct. 2009
Shasta Lake in June 2011
Speaking of Weather, while in Redding, I was holed up in a hotel for a few days while it rained and rained, …and rained. During one severe spell, I could see some very ominous clouds nearing my hotel. I headed out to do a little storm chasing, and managed to catch a funnel cloud that I posted to my Facebook Fan Page. If you haven’t seen it, check it out, and may I dare even suggest you “Like” my page while you’re there. 🙂
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Image ID#: 110528a_DLN-0002
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Sounds like you had a good shoot Gary despite the weather. I remember Shasta Lake looking like that a couple years ago – amazing what a couple of good years can do!
glad that you had a nice trip Gary. The image with the storm cloud is superb, loving the reflections!
Thanks for the lovely photos! It’s good to see Shasta Lake in all its full glory. It’s very reassuring!
Good to see Shasta full. Once the weather clears I may go up and get some aerials of it filled to the brim!
Glad to hear you made the most of a waterlogged experience. Besides, that top photograph alone was worth all the sogginess.
Gorgeous image and great story, Gary. Here in southern California, too, its been an incredibly wet winter/spring. Not that I’m complaining–I’m not ready for 100+ degrees quite yet. 🙂
if you visit Danube Delta you will see more …. belive me! but very nice here too