SAN DIEGO — In Southern California we measure our rainfall from October 1 until the end of September and as you would expect the numbers are below average for this past season.
The official rainfall total in San Diego is over 30% below average for the rainy season and add that to the below average rainfall over the past five years and we’re looking at a significant drought. One of the major contributors to that is the La Niña pattern that has been in the Easter Pacific over the past two years, and now we’re heading into a third year, which will continue the below average rainfall totals.
Looking back at the past season there were only really three major events that brought rain: a storm cycle that brought an atmospheric river in mid-December, a series of weak storms in late January early February. March was the final blast of rain here on the West Coast. After that the rain shut off and we stayed dry until the monsoons came and brought rain to Southern California and central California.
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San Diego received above average rainfall in the month of September because of that monsoon. And if you’re wondering was September hotter than usual you would be absolutely right, that came from our 10 day heat wave that broke many records.
Watch Related: Record breaking rainfall soaks San Diego County (Sep 9, 2022)
