A thunderstorm last night—first of the season. Not a great deal of thunder, but quite a lot of rain, perhaps close to two inches. Then this afternoon the rain came again and has been coming down hard and steady for hours.

Manitoulin has a weather advisory for heavy rain, followed by snow. And we may see a bit of snow here. But really this rain event washes away the last traces of winter. The dry, crusty brittleness, the remnant salt and sand, has been washed away, and the grass is greening and the buds swelling. Good for water levels, too.