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Ella M. Sexton - Stories of California
season, from November to February, with little frost and no ice nor snow, is winter in name only. Roses
and violets bloom in the gardens and yellow poppies on the hills.
People expect and hope for much rain in this so-called winter, since a wet year assures good crops to the
state. But the amount of rain that falls is very uncertain. It does not rain every day, nor all day, as a rule,
and each storm seems different. Sometimes a "southeaster" blows up from the Japan Current, or Black
Stream, as the Japanese call the warm, dark-blue waters that pour out of the China Sea. This current of
the Pacific Ocean flows along our coast in a mighty river a thousand miles wide, and gives California its
peculiar climate of cool summers and moist, warm winters. The southeasterly wind ruffles the bay with
white-capped waves and dashes sheets of rain against window and roof. Then the wind changes, and all
the clouds go flying to north or east, while from the clear blue sky brilliant sunshine pours down to make
the grass and flowers grow. During the winter months the sun is strong and warm enough to make
out-door life delightful.
The farmer depends greatly upon the rainfall. In a wet winter the moisture sinks far into the ground, but
not so deep that the thirsty little roots cannot find it in the summer. Early rains are needed to soften the
ground for November ploughing, and young grain and crops of all kinds need rain through April. In the
northern part of the state the wet season begins earlier and lasts longer than in the south, while the
southeastern corner is an almost rainless desert.
In San Francisco the thermometer seldom falls below 45º in the winter, the average for the season being
51º. Perhaps in January or February the sidewalks may be white with frost in the mornings, or hail may
fall during some cold rain-storm. Once in five years or so, enough snow falls to make children go wild
with delight over a few snowballs which are very soon melted. People can be comfortable the year round
without fires, and the clear, bright winter days with soft air and warm sunshine are always pleasant
enough to spend outdoors. This ocean climate, due to the warm sea air, is enjoyed by the counties facing
the coast and San Francisco Bay. In the valleys of the interior white frosts are frequent, and thin ice
forms on the wayside puddles. Once in a while killing frosts destroy fruit blossoms and cut down the
garden flowers and vegetables, but seldom do more damage.
In mountain regions, above five or six thousand feet, the very cold winter lasts six or seven months.
Snow falls almost constantly and drifts to a great depth. Small lakes are frozen and buried in snow, and
the trees are bent and weighed down with ice and sleet. Many of the wild animals come down to the
foot-hills below the snow-line to spend the winter; but the bear curls himself up in his warm cave and
sleeps through the cold months. In this snowy zone of the Sierras, about thirty miles wide, winter lasts
from the first snowfall, about the end of October, to the late spring of June. Then July and August are
months of glorious weather, with clear, dry air and a cloudless sky. During the day the temperature of
about 80 degrees melts much snow, and the rivers carry it away in rushing torrents and falls of icy water.
In September the frost turns the leaves of all but the evergreen trees beautiful colors of red and yellow.
Indian summer comes during September and October, when the days are sunny and warm, and then the
long winter sets in again. Peaks above eight thousand feet are snow-clad on their crests and along their
sides by deep drifts the year round.
Along the Pacific coast in summer cool sea-winds, called trade-winds, blow in from the ocean, and 60
degrees is the average temperature. The farther you go inland from the coast, the hotter it gets, and the
heat is very great in the interior of the state. In the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys it is often over
100 degrees in the shade, though this dry heat is not hard to bear, and the nights are always cool enough
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