After a December drenched by a Rainpocalypse, San Francisco did not see a single drop of rain in the first month of 2015 -- a first in record books that go back to 1850.
The city is one of many parched areas across California as the Golden State saw one of its driest Januaries on record, according to preliminary rainfall totals. At what should be the height of the rainy season, many northern California cities got no measurable rainfall last month as the state heads into the fourth consecutive year of crippling drought.
By comparison, San Francisco has historically seen an average of 4.5 inches of precipitation in January. Despite the rainless month, the Bay Area is still on track for a wetter-than-average season, thanks to a downpour in December that brought nearly 11 inches to San Francisco, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
It's official - Jan. '15 is driest Jan. on record for the SF #BayArea. No measurable rain at most locations. #cawx pic.twitter.com/d5Gw6wyGtR— NWSBayArea (@NWSBayArea) February 1, 2015
This is the 2nd driest Jan on record for CA w/just a few days to go. #cadrought pic.twitter.com/J6c5UwmKh8— NWS Hanford (@NWSHanford) January 27, 2015
The Climate Prediction Center expects the drought to persist or intensify through April across northern California. As of last week, about 78% of the state is facing extreme or exceptional drought conditions and 94% is facing at least a severe drought.
Another worrying factor for the water-barren state is that this winter's snowpack is not likely to provide much relief come spring. The Sierra snowpack is currently at 21% of what is normal for this date in terms of snow water equivalent, according to the state department of water resources. The Central Valley and coastal areas of the state usually depend on this snow to melt in the spring and supplement reservoirs, many of which remain at dangerously low levels.
Some measure of relief may be on the way for parts of the state however. On Monday, the National Weather Service reported that significant rain would hit northern California starting late this week as another so-called atmospheric river-type storm moves into the area.
After many weeks, significant rain expected for NorCal. #cadrought #cawx pic.twitter.com/TjrcJcEImS— Paul Iniguez (@pauliniguez) February 2, 2015
Percentage of normal precipitation in CA for last month versus the season which began July 1, 2014.#cadrought #cawx pic.twitter.com/Sxci6FSkF2— NWS Hanford (@NWSHanford) February 2, 2015