Disappointing rain

One of the very few short-lived light showers yesterday

Despite the very vigorous low pressure systems which had developed north of the Canary Islands recently and the high expectations for some more generous rainfalls, once again very little precipitation fell in La Gomera.
The water reservoirs which are used for irrigation in summer contain very little water this December. They had been almost filled by the end of October last year. The drinking water is not affected as it is all won from springs and wells and the mists and fogs in the mountains which condense on the trees keep feeding a steady supply of precious water.

Well, the winter season has only begun and hopes are high for some more decent rain. 

However, for the coming week there's no rain in sight yet as high pressure becomes established.

La Gomera's water reservoirs now 70% full

The recent rains have helped to raise water levels in La Gomera's reservoirs which now have reached 70% of combined total capacity. Some of the water reservoirs are even completely full and overflowing. All these water storage facilities are exclusivly used for irrigation in agriculture. La Gomera's drinking water comes entirely from tapped wells and natural underground deposits and is of excellent quality.

Plenty of water

La Gomera has an abundant supply of water and this winter nearly all the reservoirs are full and overflowing. The reservoirs are only used for irrigation of the crops in summer, while nearly all the drinking water and the domestic supply comes from wells and springs that produce water of excellent quality. The forest that covers the top of the island produces additional water when the mist and fog that are carried across the mountains by the trade winds condensate on the trees and percolate through the ground to feed the springs. 

Cold front 2 - now with added improvement

There was a second cold front yesterday evening and night, but as the low directly over us even deepened further to 1005 hPa it became more benign and after leaving a good bit of rain the night before (rain at night is the BEST rain), it only brought a few good  showers after that. The depression will begin to fill and dissipate today, making room for a new high of 1020 hPa within 48 hours. That means that we'll be back to sunnier and warmer weather - business as usual - and the farmers are happy to have had a good watering of the crops. The temperature will remain below the average for this time of the year for today before recovering on Saturday to regain the 'eternal spring' values that the Canary Islands are normally blessed with, and the the odd shower expected tomorrow will keep La Gomera in verdant splendour. All the irrigation water reservoirs are now at 85% of full capacity already, and a colourful blossom-laden spring is almost guaranteed.
This minor weather interlude here was due to the repeated extreme storms that hit Ireland, Britain and other parts of northern Europe since before Christmas. Keep 'em coming !
I met tourists and visitors yesterday, clad in T-shirts with shorts and flip-flops while I was wearing four layers of clothing including a padded raincoat and heavy boots. They felt warm while I was frrrreezing. It's all relative...

The southern sky at 3:30pm yesterday still looks threatening as a shower closes in on El Hierro on right

Similar view 2,5 hrs later: The southern sky has cleared and the sun is blazing again to dry the wet ground

The photo of the (yester-)day that says it all and was taken from La Gomera, however, goes to to © lavozdelagomera.com with this impressive take from above the statue over San Sebastian de La Gomera with Mount Teide on neighbouring Tenerife island partially snow-covered in the background (well done, chico, we don't see that too often!):