Wet Y-S far from flooding

Despite rains that hit Yuba-Sutter in the past week, rainfall and snowpacks are below average for this time of year.

But those involved in monitoring water resources note it's still early in the water year.

As of 5 p.m. Thursday, unofficial Appeal-Democrat rainfall totals have Marysville receiving 4.17 inches of rain since the water year began on July 1.

While this is slightly ahead of last year's total at this point of the year, it is still 2 inches behind the historical average at this time of the year for Marysville rainfall.

Rain totals are also below average statewide, according to the California Cooperative Snow Surveys, a collection of state, federal and private organizations coordinated by the Department of Water Resources.

The Feather River basin is at 62 percent of normal precipitation for the months of October and November, while the Yuba and Bear rivers basin was at 67 percent of normal over the two months, according to CCSS.

Also below average is mountain snowpacks. Official snow surveys do not begin until January, but estimates from CCSS show current snowpacks in Northern California at 71 percent of average.

Art Hinojosa, hydrology branch chief for DWR, said below-average snowpacks this time of year are “typical.”

“It's still early in the season,” he said.

Locally, Strawberry Valley weather watcher Ben Borsoff said his area in the foothills has not seen any snow since last week because of rain.

“It's wintertime,” he said. “We can get it anytime.”

The chance of precipitation hitting Marysville and Yuba City remains at 40 to 50 percent through Saturday night, according to the National Weather Service. The probability of rain diminishes after that, with forecasts showing partly cloudy skies through Thursday.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Robert LaHue can be reached at 749-4713. You may e-mail him at rlahue@appeal-democrat.com.