As many trees blossom including almonds and peaches, strong wind and rain can stop future fruits and nuts from growing.
The blossoms must be pollinated in order to produce food.
Mountain snowpack supplies irrigation water the rest of the year. This year mountain areas have only received about half the snow of an average year.
Heavy rain, strong wind, even cool temperatures can damage blooms or leave them unpollinated. This means fewer fruits and nuts come fall.
Selma farmer John Chandler says, “We’d like to have some good weather, a little warmer weather so the bees get out and really work and pollinate these almonds.”
Mountain snowpack levels are featured in this story’s extended play video.
