Rain predicted, but Merced farmers worry dry January will continue
Despite high hopes for a wet January, rain will continue to elude Merced County this month, escalating the tension for local farmers.
The only possibility of rain in the next 10 days is Tuesday, forecasters predicted, but it’s only a 20 percent chance. With one week left in the month, the county is already experiencing a severe rainfall deficit for January, according to Jeff Barlow, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Hanford.
Barlow said the normal rainfall for Merced County in January is 2.13 inches, based on 17 years of data. This month, the county has gotten only a “trace” of rain – wetting the ground but not enough to measure. A trace of rain is considered anything less than 0.01 inches, Barlow said.
“January is generally a very wet month for us, but we do have a deficit,” he said. “We’re going to be hard-pressed to get any significant rainfall in here through the rest of the month.”
The potential for another dry year is weighing heavily on the minds of farmers, said Merced County Farm Bureau Executive Director Amanda Carvajal. Many farmers have made serious sacrifices because of a lack of water, she added, ranging from fallowing their land to not farming at all.
“It’s drastic. I can’t even fathom how bad things could get,” Carvajal said. “It’s a very stressful situation we’re in right now.”
Despite the concessions made by farmers, Carvajal said, certain regulations protecting salmon and other fish are making a dire situation much worse.
“We’re still having to release water for fish because of federal and state mandates that protect them,” she said. “We are in a distressed situation and they are still asking for more (water). It’s like they are setting us up to fail – or they are attempting to.”
Carvajal said farmers are hoping and praying for another “March miracle,” referring to a huge downpour that occurred a few years ago.
While many are crossing their fingers and hoping for rain, some are bracing themselves for even more fog.
Barlow predicted fog will continue in Merced County through the next week, settling in the late evening and early morning hours. The fog typically burns off by 3 p.m., he said, but will blanket Merced County again by nightfall.
California Highway Patrol Officer Moises Onsurez said the fog hasn’t increased the number of accidents in Merced County, but he warned motorists to take extra precautions. Allowing extra travel time, keeping a safe distance between cars and ensuring you have enough gas, proper tire tread and new windshield wipers are important.
But when dense fog covers stop signs at county roads and intersections, Onsurez said, drivers should use their ears. “Roll down the window and listen for oncoming traffic,” he said.
If your car stalls in the fog, Onsurez said, it’s critical to pull off the road and turn off all lights to prevent becoming a distraction to other drivers.
If some rain arrives on Tuesday, that could bring relief from the fog. It could also provide some relief, however small, to those keeping their fingers crossed for a wetter 2015.
Sun-Star staff writer Ramona Giwargis can be reached at (209) 385-2477 or rgiwargis@mercedsunstar.com.
FOG SAFETY TIPS FOR DRIVERS
▪ Drive with lights on low beam; never drive with just your parking or fog lights.
▪ Reduce your speed.
▪ Avoid crossing traffic unless absolutely necessary.
▪ Listen for traffic you cannot see.
▪ Use wipers and defroster as necessary for maximum vision.
▪ Be patient – don’t pass lines of traffic.
▪ Don’t stop on any freeway or other heavily traveled road unless absolutely necessary.
▪ Consider postponing your trip until the fog clears.
FOG TIPS FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS
▪ Wear bright clothing.
▪ Bikes should have lights and reflectors.
▪ Cross streets at intersections where traffic lights are present.
▪ Be aware that drivers may have difficulty seeing you.
This story was originally published January 23, 2015 at 7:48 PM with the headline "Rain predicted, but Merced farmers worry dry January will continue."