[pct-l] Is this weather typical? - Sierra City to Belden (Brian Westlander)

[CClark]

Hi Strog and Bling
This weather is not typical.  My husband and I just returned from hiking CA sections DEF. We have now completed our entire MYTH (Multi-Year Thru-Hike), so we have done all the PCT sections.  
We saved for last the area we thought would be hottest.  Alas, this was the coldest we have been on any of our section hikes... much colder than we were through the Sierras and Cascades.  On this "desert" section, we were hit by a couple of snowstorms.  
But I manage to stay dry in any weather with the following combination of layers.  It will sound like too much to some lightpackers, but these items all double as wind protection, so they keep me warm, too:-- Marmot Mica rain jacket with hood (7 oz)-- O2 rain jacket with hood (5.5 oz)  [runs very large, so order smaller size]-- O2 pants (4 oz)-- emergency poncho (1.5 oz)-- neoprene windsurfing gloves (2.5 oz per pair)optional:  Chrome Dome umbrella (great when it's not windy!) (8oz)
BTW, in addition, for warmth, I include a Mtn Hardwear Ghost Whisperer jacket (6.5 oz) and a Montbell vest (5.5 oz).  I am prone to hypothermia, so I have to take all this clothing. 
We also have downloaded the PCTHYOH app, which helps us know when storms are coming, so we can take an extra zero day if needed.
Enjoy your hike,Souldoctor and BoomDone 
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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 24 May 2015 11:12:55 -0700
From: Brian Westlander <brian.westlander at gmail.com>
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Is this weather typical? - Sierra City to Belden
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My wife and I (section hikers) just hiked from Sierra City to Quincy-La
Porte Road over the last few days. We felt like we were unusually slammed
by fairly constant rain and thunderstorms. These did not seem like your
typical afternoon thunderstorms. We only saw sun for about an hour each day.

We checked the weather reports before leaving so did expect some
rain/storms. But we felt the reports we saw underestimated the storms quite
a bit.

1) Does anybody know if this stormy weather, in this region, is typical for
this time of year? In other words, can we expect more of the same weather
as we continue?

2) Or, is the weather very unpredictable in this region - i.e. Don't put
much stock in the weather reports?

3) Finally, does anyone have recommendations for lightweight rain gear? Our
rain gear turned out to not be waterproof (Frogg Togg Dri-Ducks - they may
have been too old to protect us) sending our soggy selves off the trail and
into Quincy earlier than planned.

Thanks so much for your help!

- Strog and Bling
(at a motel in Quincy rehashing our plans)