Light rain showers are in the forecast for San Diego on Tuesday, but the much needed wetness is not expected to put a dent in the region’s precipitation deficit.
“So far this water year we’ve received 3.19 inches of rain,” said Brett Albright, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “That puts us well behind, about 7 inches below where we should be for this time of year.”
Precipitation is measured each year from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.
Albright said just three decent storms have moved through the county since January, following a bone dry fall.
“We had one in January, one in February and a little bit in March, with some ... little spits in between,” Albright said.
The region has only been this dry one other time since record keeping began in 1850. The total precipitation in the 2001-2002 rain year was 3.30 inches.
Albright said April typically marks the end of San Diego’s rainy season, and the month of May marks the start of a six month drying out period. Rainfall from May through October typically measures a quarter to a half inch.
“That would be enough to push us away from our driest year on record, but it won’t be enough to make a real dent in potential fire season,” he said.
Albright said the lack of storm systems can be blamed on high-pressure patterns and a La Niña condition.
Above average temperatures are predicted through spring, according to a U.S. Climate Prediction Center report, but the agency’s long-range rain forecast shows equal chances for wet or dry conditions.
