Steady Yuba-Sutter rains no handicap for golfer

A slow but steady series of rainstorms continues to drizzle on Yuba-Sutter, one of the first tastes of winter weather the region has felt in months.

As of Friday afternoon, 2.7 inches had fallen since the first storm rolled in Tuesday, with another half-inch expected to fall overnight and more rain forecast through the weekend, said weather forecaster Johnnie Powell of the National Weather Service.

Although things may dry up by Tuesday, today will see showers, a chance of thunderstorms and possibly hail, with temperatures in the high- to mid-50s.

"It's a wet pattern catching up," Powell said. "We haven't had one since probably November. This is where we should be in the middle of winter, but we'll take it. Spring will be here next week."

At Peach Tree Golf and Country Club, Terry Bentley refused to be put off by a little precipitation Friday. The Yuba City resident has gotten used to rain while working in Portland the last month, and donned his waterproof jacket and pants to hit the driving range.

"If I can gain an edge, get in some practice when other people are not, I'm doing it," he said. "And we definitely need the rain, so it's something you can't complain about."

Raindrops dripping off his ears Friday, he drove ball after ball to perfect his swing. A giant umbrella sat propped open on the ground, protecting his bag, clubs and a dry towel for wiping his hands and club handles.

As rain shed in sheets off his clothes, he said, the weather didn't seem to be affecting his performance.

"I think it's more mental than it is a physical hindrance," he said. "I'll take what they give me, 'they' being Mother Nature. This is great."

Sloshing their way home from school Friday, Marysville brothers Tristan Leal, 5, and Robbie Leal, 10, said it's been too long since the streets have been filled with puddles. As they competed to create the biggest splashes, they soaked themselves nearly head-to-toe.

"I like water. I like swimming a lot in the summer, so I'm used to it. It doesn't bother me," said Robbie, his shoes soggy from stomping.

Tristan grinned ear-to-ear as he jumped from the sidewalks into gutters inches deep with water, sending sprays upward and outward.

"I like the rain," he said. "'Cause I get wet."

Impacts from the storm were relatively minimal in Yuba County, said Public Works Director Mike Lee. No major road flooding was reported, but the campground at Sycamore Ranch had to be closed Friday and a handful of campers were asked to leave because of rising water levels.

"It does flood at times," Lee said. "Obviously, it takes a fair amount of rain like we've had over the last week to get to that level."

Doug Gault gave a similar report for Sutter County Public Works, saying nothing unusual had happened. There were a few road closures in low-lying areas.

"In fact, the way it's come — kind of slow and steady — and the fact the rice farmers have already drained their fields, so we started out with empty ditches, was good," he said.

The Tisdale Boat Launch Facility on the Sacramento River in southwest Sutter County was closed Friday due to high water. It is tentatively scheduled to reopen Tuesday.

Because of warm temperatures, the wet weather has been coming mostly as rain in the higher elevations, but with a cold pattern moving in Friday night, snow was expected to fall in the foothills, Powell said.

"With any luck, you might see a snowflake or two at the 1,000-foot level," he said.

The severity of the storm postponed the La Porte Snowmobile Club's annual ride for the Yuba-Sutter Special Olympics athletes that was scheduled for today.

Club members were posting on the group's Facebook page the area was getting a mix of rain and snow, which was melting fast, although a few people were still planning on going snowmobiling this weekend.

CONTACT Ashley Gebb at agebb@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4783. Find her on Facebook at /ADagebb or on Twitter at @ADagebb.