Pasadena Weather: Pounding Rain, Mountain Snow and Sunshine!

A powerful storm struck Pasadena and the surrounding area, leaving nearly one and a half inches of rain in the higher elevations of the city and neighboring Altadena. Rain started early in the morning, grew heavy as daylight came and hail even turned lawns white in the early afternoon. Then the clouds broke and the sky was sunny later in the day until the clouds converged once more and more rain fell.

Temperatures stayed chilly with highs in the upper 40s in Pasadena and barely above freezing in the higher elevations.

Across the state, the heavy storm was needed to climb above normal levels for the current rainy season and keep pushing California out of drought conditions.

Winter in Southern California is normally unpredictable from one year to the next. December was extremely cold with rain and snow levels down to 3,000 feet. Then we had summer weather in January. As a high school soccer referee this year, I had several matches when temperatures climbed into the mid-80s and stayed there in mid-to-late afternoon.

February was a return to wet, winter weather with snow falling heavily on Mount Baldy and the ski slopes in Big Bear.

Nearby Eaton Canyon, a nature preserve with hiking trails leading into a narrow canyon, has had dry river beds all winter season long. But not today; the small river was raging, crashing over rocks and filling the local reservoir.

Winter rains and snow pack in the local Southern California mountains result in brilliant flowers blooming in the spring and the hills are green - at least for a few months.

The Los Angeles Times once ran a chart showing rainfall totals each year over a span of nearly 100 years. The average rainfall for downtown LA is about 14 inches. But the annual rainfall totals have a wild swing from one year to the next.

Water is a precious commodity in the West and you develop water saving habits if you're concerned. Despite today's rain, I'll still turn off the faucet quickly when washing pots and pans or brushing my teeth. Like most homeowners, we plant mostly with native California plants and use a drip watering system.

When I visit my hometown in Pennsylvania, the habit stays with me and even when there's substantial rain I can't bear to let the faucet run very long.

But what's most astounding about the rainy weather - when it comes - is I still hear people who have been born in the area complain. Even during drought conditions, you can turn on the radio and hear the DJ say, "and it's nice to have the rain leave the Southland."

Native Southern Californians don't make the connection between rain making it possible to drink a glass of water. After all, isn't it supposed to be bottled?