This winter has been an exercise in climate alarmism writ small. WRAL reports:
Falls Lake, Raleigh’s water source, was on track to become full, WRAL Meteorologist Mike Moss said. Around 3 p.m. Saturday, the lake had risen five-tenths of a foot to 251.1 feet – just below its full capacity of 251.5 feet.
Jordan Lake, which serves Cary and Apex, was up two-tenths of a foot to 218 feet, exactly two feet above full.
Jon Ham has already shown the dramatic rises in Durhams Lake Michie and Little River Reservoir.
It has been less than two months since The News & Observer (not to pick on the N&O; one heard this stuff everywhere) reported that “Falls Lake could go dry this summer“:
Midway through an exceptionally dry winter, with Falls Lake more than half-empty, water managers are starting to voice the once-unthinkable: Raleigh’s drought-ravaged reservoir could go dry this year.
Federal engineers who manage the reservoir have assessed the lake’s unprecedented low winter level, the expected demand and forecasts of continuing drought and concluded that the once sprawling body of water could disappear as early as this summer.
In hindsight, one portion of the article seems to explain why such a dramatic turnaround was possible — the drop in water level was just as dramatic:
The vision of one of North Carolina’s biggest lakes going dry is startling. Less than a year ago, the brimming 25-year-old reservoir spread over more than 12,000 acres. Boats skimmed across its surface, swimmers dived into its depths, and more water was flowing into it than going out.
Then North Carolina’s worst recorded drought, sizzling summer heat, and heavy water consumption sucked the lake down to record depths: 10 feet below normal on Christmas Day.
My favorite part of the article is this:
Weather forecasts call for the next three months to remain drier than normal across North Carolina.
