“There is peace  
even in the storm.”
Vincent van Gogh

For the past few months, meteorologists have been predicting that a strong El Niño will bring heavy rain to California this winter, beginning in November and continuing through February. Well, it’s November, and the first three bands of rain are due to arrive today.

I’ll admit that I’m a pluviophile – a lover of rain. In fact, I’m a lover of storms. Growing up in San Francisco, I recall only a handful of significant rain events.

One such event took place during the night on a night when my Dad was working at the fire station. The combination of rain and wind resulted in the drain of the skylight in our upstairs bathroom getting clogged. The result of this was a cascade of water through the window into the bathroom. I remember this clearly, because I woke up to the sound of commotion as my Mom and brother addressed the situation. Not knowing what was happening, I got out of bed and walked across the hall to the bathroom. When I entered, I immediately slipped on the wet tile floor and landed flat on my back in cold water.

A second rain event in The City took place during the day. I remember standing at the front window in our living room watching torrential rain falling. Wind-swept rain water was cascading down the hill outside our home on 38th Avenue. Fortunately, the sewer system was able to handle the deluge, so there was no threat of flooding.

When I lived in The Bahamas for a year back in the mid-70’s, I recall being rocked out of my sleep by the sound of thunder, the likes of which I had never heard. A look outside enabled me to witness torrential rain, heavier than I’d ever seen in San Francisco. In fact, on several occasions, I sat on the covered porch outside my room in Nassau fascinated by the sight of heavy tropical rain inundating the area.

I honestly don’t know what to expect today and in the weeks to come. Will we experience the normal intensity of rain for California or are we, as predicted by the meteorologists, going to experience a cataclysmic event? Time will tell.

For now, I’m grateful that rain is on the way. Our water supply needs it. Crops in California need it. And a good rainfall every now and then effectively cleans the trees, pavements, and rooftops around our home.

Here’s a look at the predicted rainfall for the next week. It’s impressive.