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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Long-range forecasts from the National Weather Services and AccuWeather show that this is expected to be the third California winter in a row impacted by the La Niña climate phenomena — or, as AccuWeather called it, a “triple dip La Niña.”
A La Niña occurs when water near the equator is cooler than normal. That, in turn, impacts the jet stream — described by the National Weather Service as a narrow band of strong wind in the upper levels of the atmosphere — and so affects overall weather patterns.
That’s in contrast to El Niño, when conditions in the eastern Pacific are unusually warm.
That triple dip La Niña is similar to what California experienced last year, Carl Erikson, senior meteorologist for AccuWeather, told Lake County News in a Monday interview.
In its winter forecast, released last week, AccuWeather noted, “The triple-dip La Niña expected this winter is just the second of its kind in recent history, joining the winter of 2000-2001 as the only winters where the climate phenomenon persisted for so long.”
However, this year’s La Niña may not last the entire winter. “We do expect the La Niña to continue through at least the first half of the winter,” Erikson said, noting there are indications it may begin to weaken in winter’s second half.
What that means for California is that forecasters expect a mild start to the winter, with above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation, which could exacerbate the current drought conditions, he said.
It’s also expected to be a winter with a below-normal snowpack, Erickson said.
Erikson said forecasters are expecting a storm track north of California, in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia.
There may be more storm activity after the start of the new year.
Erickson said that while the general trend will be for storms further north, during the early part of 2023, there may be more of a southerly storm track that will develop in California. That, in turn, could bring rain and melted snow.
That’s also the best chance for rain to get as far south as Southern California, Erikson said.
Likewise, the National Weather Service’s long-range forecast shows that parts of California, including Lake County, could have above average temperatures and below-average rainfall, but the agency warns that such forecasts are rarely accurate due to their length and so can change.
AccuWeather’s winter forecast reported that another factor could be impacting the coming winter weather — the January eruption of an underwater volcano, Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai, located 2,200 miles northeast of Sydney, Australia.
That eruption caused water vapor to increase in the stratosphere; that water vapor acts like a blanket that traps warmer air underneath it.
The AccuWeather forecast noted that the eruption “could indirectly help to fortify the polar vortex over the North Pole, preventing it from dipping down across North America,” adding that it’s not yet known if the eruption will have a “a significant impact on the winter forecast or other seasonal forecasts in the future.”
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main Street.
The day starts with the homecoming parade at 10 a.m.
The downtown will be filled with music, food, a beer booth, arts and crafts vendors, and raffle items.
The festival will end with the Upper Lake High School Homecoming Football game at 6 p.m.
Come and support the school and show some community spirit.
For more information, email
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. at the Moose Lodge, located at 15900 Moose Lodge Lane in Clearlake Oaks.
The meeting can be attended in person or via Zoom; the meeting ID is 935 8339 6020, the pass code is 448228.
On Wednesday, the guest speaker will be Lake County Director of Community Development Director Mireya Turner.
Turner will give updates on the Clearlake Oaks Roadmap Task Force, discuss data tracking system and code enforcement complaint entry improvement and the Cannabis Ordinance Task force.
Holly Harris also will speak about the Environmental Protection Agency’s public outreach on the Sulphur Bank Mine Superfund site.
The agenda also includes the monthly updates on Spring Valley, commercial cannabis cultivation, the consolidated lighting district in Clearlake Oaks, the Lake County geothermal project watchlist, the Northshore Fire Protection District, the John T. Klaus 1994 Trust’s land donation for a new Clearlake Oaks park and they will get a report from Supervisor EJ Crandell.
ERTH’s members are Denise Loustalot, Jim Burton, Tony Morris and Pamela Kicenski.
For more information visit the group’s Facebook page.
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- Written by: CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL
A federal grant is helping the California Highway Patrol increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety throughout the state.
The CHP was awarded $1.2 million in grant funding through the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety, Education, Enforcement, and Awareness Program, or BESEEN, program.
“The most vulnerable roadway users are pedestrians and bicyclists,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said. “This grant will promote the importance of drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians looking out for one another so that everyone can safely share the road.”
In California, nearly 20 percent of all traffic-related deaths are pedestrian and bicycle fatalities. In 2020 and 2021 combined, 926 of the 4,651 people killed in crashes throughout CHP jurisdiction were pedestrians and bicyclists.
This grant launches a yearlong effort to educate and enforce traffic safety laws for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians through Sept. 30, 2023.
Enforcement patrols will focus on areas with higher bicyclist and pedestrian traffic and crashes. Officers will also conduct public awareness campaigns in communities throughout the state.
In addition, this grant funds bicycle safety training and educational presentations to promote safe and courteous traffic safety behaviors by drivers and bicyclists, as well as safety publications, bicycle helmets, reflective gear, and other vital safety equipment.
October is National Pedestrian Safety Month with National Walk to School Day on Oct. 12, 2022.
CHP officers in plainclothes will work with uniformed officers to monitor crosswalks and areas surrounding schools for motorists who fail to yield the right-of-way or who take unsafe and illegal actions.
Funding for this program was provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of safety, service and security.