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California has a Mediterranean climate; we receive nearly all our rain in the winter months. North Coast summer mornings are usually foggy but by mid-day we have consistently clear blue skies. Essentially all rain falls during the months of November through April with the greatest amounts in December through March. Winter storms can be intense but tend to move through quickly, providing ample opportunity to capture the drama of arriving storm clouds, building ever darker, and the excitement of the sun poking through the clouds as the storms move on. I find the building and clearing phases of a storm to be the better times to photograph with far more texture and anticipation in the clouds than during actual rainfall. Besides, who wants to stand outside in the rain?