"Between Oct. 1, 2024, and Sept. 30, 2025, California received nearly average precipitation. But that good news does not reflect the high variability of precipitation by month and region. While the state technically got enough water last season, the rain was extraordinarily late to arrive in Los Angeles and left it vulnerable to horrific wildfires in the normally wet month of January."
"Recent yearly counts have fluctuated dramatically, with 2023 marking a banner water year after the three driest years on record - and climate scientists expect this " precipitation whiplash" to ramp up. "Just in the past two winters, deceptively average rain and snowfall totals statewide masked the extremely dry conditions in Southern California that contributed to devastating fires as well as flood events across the state from powerful atmospheric river events,"
California's wet season begins Oct. 1, resetting annual precipitation tallies. Between Oct. 1, 2024 and Sept. 30, 2025 the state received about 23 inches of precipitation, roughly 96% of normal. Precipitation varied widely by month and region: San Francisco recorded 87% of normal, Oakland 50%, and Santa Rosa 123%. Northern California finished slightly above average overall with unusually wet November and February and a dry January. Southern California received below-average precipitation and late-season rain in Los Angeles increased wildfire vulnerability. Recent years have swung dramatically, including a wet 2023 after three very dry years, and precipitation whiplash is projected to intensify.
Read at SFGATE
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