And while long, three-day soakers are not unusual, you're right that thunderstorms are rare.

Some years back, my kids were visiting a neighbor during a storm. I thought nothing of it, even when small hail came down. Later I found out there'd been a small tornado a couple of miles away (no serious damage). I was flabbergasted. It had been cold enough to see my breath during the storm, and as a Midwestern boy I associated hot, muggy, still weather with tornadoes.

Some years we have "warm" storms. The wind comes up, and its fresh and warm from the southwest. You can practically smell Hawaii on it. Then you get drenched.

Lately, it's all been those damn Alaska storms. Colder than hell, and not as much rain. Radar is showing snow falling on the hills around the Bay here, but the clouds are too low to see it yet.

I hear Alaska's getting about a furlong of snow.