'Glory Hole’: California storms see return of bizarre lake phenomenon (VIDEO)
Extremely heavy storms in California have raised a Napa County reservoir to its highest level in more than a decade, with huge rainfall forming an unusual overspill phenomenon that hasn’t been witnessed in years.
Part of Napa County’s Monticello Dam, Lake Berryessa reservoir, provides drinking water to the California cities of Vacaville, Vallejo and Fairfield.
This afternoon #LakeBerryessa Morning Glory Spillway at 3 1/2 feet above top of spillway. About 5,000 cfs coming out at the bottom. #castormpic.twitter.com/xDZhjo6rgR
— ReclamationCVP (@ReclamationCVP) February 22, 2017
#LakeBerryessa Our Morning Glory Spillway, https://t.co/2buoozBB5Zpic.twitter.com/CFVrHKJoDu
— LakeBerryessaNews (@KilkusPeter) February 21, 2017
#LakeBerryessa at 443.5’ - 3.5’ over Glory Hole, Rain=41”; https://t.co/EP7hohzDVj, https://t.co/HkrIoxQLb4pic.twitter.com/t7xAC9oP8n
— LakeBerryessaNews (@KilkusPeter) February 21, 2017
Given its 1.6 million acre ft water capacity, the reservoir has been parched in recent times due to California’s lengthy drought.
It led a Solano County Water Agency official last year to hark back to the days when the reservoir would make use of a huge circular spillway – nicknamed the ‘Glory Hole’.
According to Solano County Water Agency records, Lake Berryessa has risen approximately 40ft (12 meters) in little over 50 days. The 443.5ft level is the highest in 11 years, reports Lake Berryessa News, meaning the alien-like ‘Glory Hole’ spillway is now captivating passersby and online viewers alike.
The spewing of water down the flood control system has not happened since 2006.
The local government office of Napa County was overjoyed with the development, which was first witnessed last Friday.
What a glorious sight at the glory hole spillway #LakeBerryessa from @KilkusPeter: https://t.co/KLink9FVfdpic.twitter.com/TsccdHf7Rf
— County of Napa (@CountyofNapa) February 17, 2017
The spillway has provoked an outpouring of amazement on Twitter, with some people posting images of how the lake looked during the drought.
For first time in a decade water is overflowing the 'Glory Hole' Spillway at Lake Berryessa in Northern California. Dry season and now pics. pic.twitter.com/krmA85QN9h
— Anthony Farnell (@AnthonyFarnell) February 21, 2017
#LakeBerryessa spillway hole is intimidating #castorm#BayAreaStormpic.twitter.com/jCaK1GHk5J
— Matthias Gafni (@mgafni) February 20, 2017
Lake Berryessa: pic on left: Jan. 1, 2017; pic on right: Feb. 17, 2017 #cadrought#CAflood#water#extremeevents#weatherpic.twitter.com/AwN804LhpK
— Meghan R. Klasic (@rogue_PhD) February 20, 2017
"Do a flip!" #LakeBerryessa#MonticelloDam#GloryHoleSpillwaypic.twitter.com/TiLChFUxHf
— 𓅓𓅓𓅓 (@DagoFierros) February 18, 2017
A very full #LakeBerryessa. At max flow, 48,000 cfs flow through the spillway. Enough water to fill an Olympic sized pool in ~ 2 sec. pic.twitter.com/7dchz8Joxc
— Devin (@drippner) February 21, 2017
The lake’s nickname has also prompted some helpful warnings on Twitter, with users advised not to hashtag images and videos of the phenomenon with ‘Glory Hole’ because of its pornographic connotations.
Note: don't use hashtag GloryHole - porno connection! Use #LakeBerryessa best news. https://t.co/EP7hohzDVjhttps://t.co/2buoozBB5Z
— LakeBerryessaNews (@KilkusPeter) February 21, 2017