Early Signs of Spring

RCF

RCF

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This winter is showing early signs of Spring:

Definitely warmer temps than usual.
Shifting precipitation patterns.
50% reduction of snowpack.

Things we all can see...

This last week I have seen things somewhat surprising (earlier than normal):
The frogs and their 'singing in mass".
Saw a few dragonflies.
Cormorants sitting on our dock.
Lots more eagles flying around looking for a meal.
Midge activity changing.
Lots of sipping trout where there has been minimal until recently.
Lots more mayfly activity.
A number of flights of migrating waterfowl.
Geese and ducks starting their 'dance ritual'.
Buds on rhododendron and fruit trees getting larger.

Times are changing....

What are you seeing?
 
You guys got a winter? Lucky...

Here in the Gorge we've had a few frosty mornings but not much more than that. No snow, even up on the mountain. People are planting spring veggies like peas already. I'm expecting the Tulips to start sprouting any day now. We've had some of the typical inversion layers but they have been in the 40s instead of the 20s. I'd be enjoying it if we had a snowpack accumulating at the same time. This summer might get ugly...
 
It was 60 and sunny on my walk today and tonight is the first one I've heard frogs. We've had mid-February spring starts before, but I can't remember a Feb 6th start. One of those mid-Feb years we then got snow here in the SE King County foothills 5 times in April. So who knows.
Also, I mowed my lawn last week! Pretty sure that was the first time I've ever had to mow in January.

The Cascades get a big share of the snow pack in March and April so hopefully there's still time. Could be a crispy summer if not. :(
 
Some of the buds on my magnolia trees are starting to shed their outer layer. I noticed them on my car and driveway. That is way early.
SF
 
Have fished all winter with either my boat or friends , on lakes that are normally iced up here in Utah . One will stay partially open ,but it too is pretty much wide open . A little skim of ice in the morning that get melted or blown off . Mid 50's two days ago on Jordanelle Reservoir , at 6100 feet altitude .
 
I was out to a local still water and it looked like onion soup, midge's started hatching and some trout were slurping some.
I didn't catch any fish but it was a beautiful day around 60 degrees.
Now this coming week it is gonna get cold and nasty again for a few days.
We really need some snow in the mountains.
A friend of mine and his son did two days floating the N. Umpqua and the Umpqua river.
Their guide said the river was lower than he has seen it in 20 years and yes they caught many bright steelhead on both days
 
If we don't get some significant storms between now and April 1 it's gonna be a dry, dry fire season. Maybe it will anyway. With respect to the 20 year median ending 2020, most snowpack numbers right now south or west of Spokane are at best 50%, east and north of here the good snowpack numbers are in the 70% or so range. Our precipitation totals with respect to long term averages are near normal, though, so maybe we'll get decent recharge to the Col. Basin/lowland BC lakes and some support for late season streamflow. But FYI, I can hear the drumbeats in the Yakima drainage now, and the Colorado basin guys are prepping for battle.
 
Parked on my lawn ?
:)
 
My sure sign we are just a week away from "spring" is the Red Winged Blackbirds show back up and SIGN like crazy!!

Also, the warm weather last year the first frog songs have been heard!
 
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