The beginning...

...of the end of the drought? A magnificent 3.01", 45 minute downpour yesterday was the best rain we've had in years. It's a testimony to the intensity of the drought that a half hour after the rain stopped all the puddles were gone, and the creeks hardly responded at all. We're still way down on soil moisture deficit, but it's a step in the right direction. Our synoptic weather has shifted a bit so that we're at least getting scattered summer-type thunderstorms occasionally again. If we can even get back to a pattern of a half inch or an inch every week or so, we'll hold the line for the rest of the summer with little further damage.